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OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 
OF LONG AGO 


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THE 

LITTLE COUSINS OF LONG AGO 
SERIES 

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Each volume illustrated with full page plates 
in tints. 

Cloth , 12 mo, with decorative cover. 

Per volume , 60 cents 

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NOW READY 

Our Little Athenian Cousin of Long Ago 
By Julia Darrow Cowles 
Our Little Roman Cousin of Long Ago 
By Julia Darrow Cowles 

IN PREPARATION 

Our Little Spartan Cousin of Long Ago 
Our Little Viking Cousin of Long Ago 

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L. C. PAGE & COMPANY 
S3 Beacon Street, Boston, Mass. 




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OUR LITTLE 
ATHENIAN COUSIN 
OF LONG AGO 

Being the Story of Hiero, 

A Boy of Athens 

BY 


JULIA DARROW COWLES 

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Author of “ Our Little Roman Cousin of Long Ago.” 

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ILLUSTRATED BY 

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Copyright , /prj, by 
L. C. Page & Company 

(incorporated) 

All rights reserved 


First Impression, September, 1913 


THE COLONIAL PRESS 
C. H. SIMONDS & CO., BOSTON, U. S. A. 



©CI.A357046 



LOVINGLY DEDICATED 
TO THE MEMORY OF 


MY FATHER 

FRANCIS VINCENT T)ARROW 



Preface 


As Rome is associated in the minds of all 
with military heroism and power, so Athens is 
associated with art. The story of Our Little 
Athenian Cousin of Long Ago has for its 
setting the reign of Pericles, 444-429 B. c., 
when Athens was at the zenith of her power 
and glory, and when art and architecture 
reached their climax. 

The story has been purposely made to em¬ 
phasize the artistic, rather than the political, 
side of Athenian life, since it is through its 
art that Athens has most powerfully influenced 
our own life and times. 

Every care has been taken to make the story 
a vivid portrayal of the civic and home life of 
a child of the time, while adhering strictly to 
the best authorities in regard to detail. 




Contents 


CHAPTER PAGE 

Preface .vii 

Pronunciation of Proper Names . xii 

I. The Guest-Friend .... i 

II. In the: Market-place ... 12 

III. The Acropolis.20 

IV. Preparing for the Festival . . 29 

V. ,At School.37 

VI. The Wrestling School ... 45 

VII.* The Festival.56 

VIII. The Great Procession ... 63 

IX. Hiero’s Uncle Is III ... 72 

X. -Festival of the Bear ... 78 

XI. The New Slave.84 

XII. Preparing to Be Soldiers . . 89 

XIII. A Story in the Studio ... 96 

XIV. Duris Leaves Athens . . .101 

XV. The Beginning of War . . . 109 

X\fU Hiero the Victor . . . .117 

























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List of Illustrations 


- » - 

PAGE 

Hiero. Frontispiece ' 

“ Duris gazed in wonder as he stood be- 


FORE THE IMAGE OF THE GODDESS ” . 

26 ^ 

“ The master read to the pupils from the 


poems of Homer ”. 

40 

“Within a few feet of the line he sped 


LIKE AN ARROW ”. 

59 

“ The slaves were upon a platform where 



THEY COULD BE SEEN BY THOSE WHO 


WISHED TO BUY ”. 

85 vX 

“ For the moment Hiero forgot the crowd 


AND THE CHEERING ”. 

123 ^ 



Pronunciation of Proper Names 


A-crop'o-lis 

Med'i-ter-ra'ne-an 

Ag'a-thon 

Me'los 

A-pol'lo 

Men'o-do'ra 

A'ri-ad'ne 

Mi'nos 

Ar'te-mis 

Min'o-taur 

A-the'ni-an 

Nep'tune 

A-the'ne 

Ni-car'e-te 

Ath'ens 

O-lym'pi-an 

Cal'li-as 

O-lym'pic 

Chlo'ris 

O-lym'pus 

Ci'mon 

Pal'las A-the'ne 

Cle'on 

Pan-ath'e-nas'a 

Crete 

Par'the-non 

Cri'to 

Per'i-cles 

Da'mon 

Pei-si'stra-tus 

De-me'ter 

Phid'i-as 

Di'o-nys'i-us 

Phi'lo 

Do'nax 

Phor'i-on 

Du'ris 

Pi-rae'us 

Eu-phron'i-us 

Pyth'i-as 

Har-mo'ni-a 

Py'thon 

He'ra 

Rhodes 

Her-mip'pos 

Soc'ra-tes 

Hi-e'-ro 

Spar'ta 

Ho'mer 

The'ron 

Il'i-ad 

The'se-us 

I'ris 

Tro'jan 

Lys'i-as 

Vul'can 

Ma'nes 

Zeus (zus) 


xii 



Our Little Athenian Cousin 
of Long Ago 


CHAPTER I 

THE GUEST - FRIEND 

More than twenty-three hundred years ago 
two travellers, richly dressed, and mounted 
upon donkeys, made their way slowly along 
the narrow and irregular streets of Athens. 
They were followed on foot by a group of 
slaves, who carried huge bundles in which were 
blankets, clothing and cooking utensils, show¬ 
ing that they had journeyed from some dis¬ 
tance. 

The travellers were Phorion, a famous Gre¬ 
cian architect, and Duris, his son, a boy of 
twelve years.. 


1 



2 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


Presently they stopped before a house in the 
Street of the Sculptors, and one of the slaves 
rapped loudly upon the door. 

“ I believe this is the house of Hermippos,” 
said Phorion. 

“ I do not see how you can tell,” replied 
Duris. “ They all look exactly alike to me.” 
And he glanced up at the wall of the house, 
which was close to the street. There were 
windows in the upper story, but none in the 
lower. A single door relieved the bare face 
of the lower wall. All the houses up and down 
the street were built in a similar way. 

Before Phorion could answer there sounded 
a sharp rap upon the inner side of the door 
to warn them that it was about to be opened, 
and the slaves stepped quickly to one side so 
that, in swinging outward, the heavy door 
should not strike th£m. 

A slave appeared in the opening, and Manes, 
one of the slaves of Phorion, approached him. 



THE GUEST-FRIEND 


3 


“ My master, Phorion,” said Manes, “ has 
come from a far distant island and is worn with 
the long journey. His family are guest-friends 
of your master’s family. In token of this, here 
is the broken ring which is the sign of their 
treaty. The other half of the ring is .in the 
keeping of your master.” 

The slave took the broken ring, bade the two 
guests enter, and went to seek Hermippos. 

Duris looked about him at the furnishings 
of the court of the house in which they waited. 
There were chairs, couches and tables about, 
and all were of simple materials, but artistic 
in shape. The lamps, of which there were a 
large number, consisted of an open vessel for 
oil in which a wick was placed, and all were 
beautiful in form and in workmanship. 

Several rooms opened from the court, and 
presently from one of these stepped Hermip¬ 
pos, the sculptor. He was a tall man of line 
appearance, and Duris liked him at once. But 




4 


OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


Duris was even more pleased at sight of a 
young boy of about his own age, who followed 
Hermippos. 

“ Ah,” he said to himself, “ now I shall have 
a fine time during my stay in Athens. I did 
not know that Hermippos had a son.” 

Greetings were exchanged between the two 
men, and Duris was introduced to Hiero, the 
son of Hermippos. Hiero was a fine specimen 
of an Athenian boy, and as Duris looked into 
his manly, attractive face, he felt that his own 
visit to Athens had taken on new interest. 

The two artists were soon busily engaged in 
discussing the buildings and sculptures of Ath¬ 
ens. 

“ Pericles is doing wonderful things for the 
city,” said Hermippos. “ He is a successful 
general and a wise and unselfish ruler. But he 
is a lover of art and of beauty as well, and he 
has determined that Athens shall be made the 
most beautiful city in the world.” 




THE GUEST-FRIEND 


5 


“I am very anxious to see the Parthenon,” 
said Phorion, “ for I understand that it is the 
most magnificent temple ever built.” 

“ It is,” replied Hermippos earnestly. “ I 
shall be glad to take you to see it. I thought 
it an honor to make some of the statues which 
are upon its walls.” 

“ I, too, have been honored by Pericles,” 
said Phorion, “ for he has sent for me to plan 
a great music hall, which he is about to 
build.” 

“ That is an honor, indeed,” replied Her¬ 
mippos. “ We must visit the Acropolis to¬ 
morrow, and you, of course, must pay your 
respects to our ruler, Pericles.” 

In the meantime the boys, Hiero and Duris, 
were becoming acquainted also. 

“ I am glad you have come,” said Hiero 
frankly. “ We will have some good times to¬ 
gether.” And then he added: “I shall want 
to hear all about your journey from the Island. 




6 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


I never have travelled, but I have often wished 
that I might.” 

“ I like to travel,” replied Duris, “ except 
when the sea is rough,” and at that he made 
such a wry face that they both burst into hearty 
laughter. 

“ I am glad we are guest-friends,” exclaimed 
Hiero. “ I wonder when the treaty was made 
between our families.” 

“ I understand,” replied Duris, “ that some 
of our ancestors fought together in battle a 
great many years ago and became much at¬ 
tached to each other. So they agreed that when 
any of my ancestor’s family visited Athens they 
should be your guests, and when any of your 
ancestor’s family visited our home they should 
be our guests. So they took a ring which one 
of them was wearing and broke it in half. And 
the broken ring has been passed down from 
father to son, and is kept as a token of the 
family treaty.” 



THE GUEST-FRIEND 


7 


“ That is very interesting,” said Hiero ear¬ 
nestly, as Duris finished his story. 

The custom which Duris had described did 
not seem at all strange to Hiero, for in that 
far distant time inns were few and small, and 
were far from being comfortable. Neither did 
the fact that Duris and his father had come 
unexpectedly surprise him, even though their 
visit was likely to prove a long one, for rail¬ 
ways, mail service, telephones and the tele¬ 
graph had never been heard of, so there was 
usually no way of knowing when a guest was 
to arrive until he presented himself at the door. 
But the people of Greece were kindly and hos¬ 
pitable and often cared for strangers who were 
not guest-friends. 

“ Tell me about your journey here,” urged 
Hiero, for by this time the boys had begun to 
feel like real comrades. 

“ We journeyed first on foot,” began Duris, 
“ for it was some distance from our home to 



8 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


the seaport. The slaves, of course, carried our 
blankets and food, for we were two days on 
the way.” 

“ It must have been like a long picnic! ” ex¬ 
claimed Hiero. 

“ Yes,” said Duris, “ it was fun, though by 
the end of the second day the walking grew 
tiresome. We had travelling shoes studded 
with nails. I liked eating out of doors, 
and it was pleasant to sleep under the 
stars. 

“ But to me,” Duris continued, “ the most 
interesting part was the sea voyage. The ship 
we were on was a trireme.” 

“ I do not know much about ships,” said 
Hiero. “What is a trireme like? ” 

“ It is called a trireme because it has three 
banks of oars,” replied Duris. “ The slaves 
who row the ship sit in banks on each side, and 
there are three banks at different heights. 
There was a captain of the slaves who played 




THE GUEST-FRIEND 


9 


upon a flute to mark the time, so that all the 
oars struck the water at the same instant. 

“ It was very rough one day, and I felt 
pretty bad, for the motion of the boat made 
me ill, but I managed to get out in order to 
watch the oars. I was not too ill to wonder 
whether the slaves could keep their even stroke, 
for the wind was churning the water into great 
waves.’’ 

“Well, did they?” asked Hiero. 

“ No,” replied Duris, “ for once the slaves 
had a rest. But I was well repaid by the sight 
I saw, for the master of the ship had had two 
great sails hoisted, and the ship was being car¬ 
ried forward by the force of the wind.” 

“ My! ” exclaimed Hiero, “ I should like to 
take a trip like that! ” 

“We left the ship, of course, when it reached 
the Piraeus, which is the seaport of Athens, as 
you, of course, know. There my father hired 
donkeys on which we rode to your city.” 



10 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


“How did you like the Piraeus?” inquired 
Hiero. 

“ It is a fine place,” said Duris. “ The 
streets are straight and quite broad; not at all 
like the streets here in Athens. I should think 
a person would get lost here, unless he knew 
the city well.” 

“ I suppose he might,” said Hiero with a 
laugh, “ but I am so used to the city that I 
never had thought of that.” 

“ The walls which extend from the Piraeus 
to Athens are wonderfully big and strong,” 
added Duris. 

“Yes,” said Hiero. “They are sixty feet 
high, and broad enough for two chariots to be 
driven side by side upon their top. No army 
can ever break through those walls, and so 
Athens can never be cut off from the sea. 

“There is to be a great festival this year 
in honor of the goddess Athene,” continued 
Hiero, “ and I hope that w r e may visit the 



THE GUEST-FRIEND 


11 


Piraeus together, for the festival ends with a 
regatta upon the water.” 

“ That ought to be a fine sight,” exclaimed 
Duris. “ I hope we may be here for the fes¬ 
tival.” 




CHAPTER II 


IN THE MARKET-PLACE 

“ Come, Duns,” called Hiero after break¬ 
fast the next morning, “ Father says that we 
may go with him to the market. Later,” he 
added, “ we are going to the Acropolis. That, 
you know, is the hill that you must have no¬ 
ticed as you passed through the city yesterday. 
On it is the Parthenon, which Pericles, our 
ruler, has built. It is the most magnificent tem¬ 
ple in the world. Near the Parthenon is a 
statue of Athene, which is forty feet high and 
is made of ivory and gold.” 

“ Oh,” exclaimed Duris, “ I caught sight of 
the statue, I think, as we came into Athens. 
Father told me that it was made by the sculp¬ 
tor, Phidias, and that he is the finest sculptor 
that has ever lived.” 


12 


IN THE MARKET - PLACE 


13 


“ That is true,” replied Hiero, “ and there 
are many of his statues and carvings in the 
Parthenon also. But, oh, the Parthenon itself! 
I can’t tell you about it, but, somehow, when 
I look at it, I just seem to feel how beautiful 
it is. All the artists and architects and sculp¬ 
tors say that it is perfect. 

“ But now,” Hiero added, with a little laugh 
at his own enthusiasm, “ we are going to the 
market. That is not so beautiful as the Acrop¬ 
olis, but I think you will find it interest¬ 
ing.” 

Hermippos and Phorion were now ready. 
With them were quite a company of slaves who 
were to attend them upon the street. Among 
these were Philo and Theron, pedagogues of 
Hiero and Duris, for every Greek boy of good 
family had his slave, who was called a peda¬ 
gogue. This slave attended him wherever he 
went and was responsible for his good be¬ 
havior. 



14 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


Slaves also attended the men of Greece, not 
only to wait upon them and to carry for them 
any articles that might be needed, but also to 
show the standing and the wealth of their own¬ 
ers. So it was quite an imposing little company 
that left the home of Hermippos. 

The streets of the city were narrow and ran 
in all sorts of irregular directions, as Duris had 
said. They were not graded, and in many 
places there were steps leading to higher or 
lower portions of the city. There were no side¬ 
walks at all. People walked in the streets, and 
were careful not to keep too close to the houses 
lest a door should be hurriedly opened and 
strike them. 

“ We will go first and buy provisions for the 
home,” said Hermippos, as they drew near to 
the market-place. 

“ And we are just in time,” exclaimed Hiero, 
“ for the bell of the fish market is ringing.” 

People were now hurrying in the direction of 




IN THE MARKET-PLACE 


15 


the fish 9talls, for fish was a favorite food of 
the Athenians. 

All about the market-place were booths and 
shops where articles of many sorts were sold. 
There were also altars and statues, and marble 
seats, for the market was a general gathering 
place. Here the men of the city met to visit; 
here travellers came, to bring news from a dis¬ 
tance; here business was carried on; and here 
the public affairs of Greece were discussed. 

“ Look 1 ” exclaimed Hiero to Duris, and he 
pointed to one of the fish stalls. 

“ There is a fight! ” said Duris. 

“ It is only a pretence,” laughed Hiero. 
“ See, in a moment one of the fellows will fall. 
Then the owner of the stall will throw water 
upon him to revive him — but the fish will be 
better drenched than the slave. That will make 
the fish look fresher, and they will sell better. 
But,” added Hiero, with a comically solemn 
expression, “ it is against the law to water the 




16 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


fish — except, of course, in case of acci¬ 
dent.” 

“ Oh, I see,” laughed Duris. And a moment 
later he added, “ There, it has happened ex¬ 
actly as you said! ” 

“ Look this way,” said Hiero, suddenly 
pointing in another direction, “ here comes a 
procession of soldiers. It is the body-guard 
of Pericles, the ruler of Athens. You will see 
him soon.” 

Duris jumped up on the marble seat, that 
he might see over the heads of the men about 
him. 

The citizens saluted their ruler, and shouted 
as he passed, for he was a favorite with all the 
people. No other ruler had done so much for 
the good of the citizens or for the beauty of 
their city, and the Greeks loved beauty as no 
other nation ever has done. 

“ Hurrah! ” exclaimed Duris, as he jumped 
down from the seat. “ I am glad that I saw 



IN THE MARKET-PLACE 


17 


him! I am proud to think that*he sent for 
my father to build one of the new temples.’’ 

As the boys reached a part of the market 
between two columns Hiero pointed toward the 
Acropolis. “See,” he said, “what a good 
view of Pallas Athene we get from here. But 
the statue can be seen, of course, from all parts 
of the city, so the goddess guards us well.” 

The Greeks, like the Romans, worshipped 
many gods. They believed that the home of 
the gods was in Mount Olympus, a great moun¬ 
tain far to the north of Greece. Zeus was the 
ruler of Mount Olympus, and dwelt in a mag¬ 
nificent temple. Here he summoned the other 
gods into council whenever the affairs of men 
were to be considered. 

The gods often quarrelled among them¬ 
selves, and acted very much as the Greeks 
themselves did, but still they were supposed to 
have power over the earth and the sea; over 
the crops of the farmer and the battles of the 




18 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


general; to guard the homes and lives of citi¬ 
zens; and to rejoice in the many festivals and 
games of the people. 

Every occurrence in nature was traced to the 
action of some god. Zeus was said to drive 
the chariot of the sun in its daily course through 
the heavens; Vulcan to forge the thunderbolts; 
while Demeter watched over the fields of grain. 
Iris was the rainbow, and Neptune the god to 
whom the sailors prayed, for he had power to 
grant them a quiet voyage. 

The Greeks did not worship their gods be¬ 
cause they were better than themselves, but 
because they w T ere more powerful. 

The many stories of the gods, which we call 
myths, but which formed the religion of the 
Greeks, were so full of poetry and of imag¬ 
inative beauty that people of every nation love 
to hear them, even though they do not believe 
in them in the same way that the Greeks did. 

But we must remember that Hiero and 



IN THE MARKET-PLACE 


19 


Duris believed these stories of gods and god¬ 
desses to be literally true, and so the great 
statue of Pallas Athene on the Acropolis rep¬ 
resented to them a living goddess who pro¬ 
tected Athens, and for whom the city was 
named. 




CHAPTER III 


THE ACROPOLIS 

“Where are the boys?” asked Hermippos 
of Phonon, as they were about to leave the 
market-place. 

“ I think we will find them in yonder crowd,” 
replied Phorion. “ I see Philo and Theron 
near by.” 

As they stepped to the booth where the crowd 
had gathered Hermippos listened for a mo¬ 
ment and then laughed. 

“ We will have to wait,” he said. “ Lysias, 

the merchant, who has just returned to Athens 

with a ship-load of goods from the Island of 

Rhodes, is telling of an encounter he had with 

pirates who tried to seize his vessel and rob 

him of his cargo. We cannot expect the boys 
20 


THE ACROPOLIS 


21 


to be interested in the Acropolis till that tale 
is finished.” 

“ Surely not,” replied Phorion with a smile. 

“ But fortunately,” they heard Lysias saying 
in a shrill voice, “*a ship from the Island of 
Melos came to our rescue, and the pirates were 
driven off. And now, my friends,” he contin¬ 
ued, “I am here to show you the beautiful 
goods — ” 

“ Come, boys,” said Hermippos, touching 
Hiero upon the shoulder, “ I think you have 
heard all of Lysias’ story that you would be 
interested in.” 

The boys turned quickly and made their way 
through the crowd. “ Did you hear Lysias tell 
of his fight with the pirates?” asked Hiero, 
with sparkling eyes, as he joined his father. 

“ I heard a part,” replied Hermippos. 
“ There are pirates enough on our seas, to be 
sure,” he added, “ but I think Lysias is not 
above inventing the story in order to draw a 



22 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


crowd about his booth. It is an excellent way 
to sell his goods.” 

The boys 'looked rather foolish for a mo¬ 
ment, and then Hiero exclaimed with a laugh: 
“ Well, I don’t care. It was a good story, 
anyway!” And to this Duris heartily agreed. 

But even pirates were forgotten when the 
boys reached the top of the broad marble steps 
that led to the Acropolis. Duris was eager to 
see the temples and statues of which he had 
heard so much, and Hiero was quite as eager 
to point them out to him. 

A love of beauty was part of the Greek 
nature. It was to them like the fragrance of 
flowers or the warmth of the sunlight. Per¬ 
haps Hiero and Duris thought even more than 
most Greek boys of their age about the beauty 
of carvings, and statues, and temples. Both 
their fathers had taught them of these things 
all their lives. 

The Parthenon was all of pure white marble. 




THE ACROPOLIS 


23 


It was surrounded by fluted columns, which 
were simple, strong, and perfect in outline. All 
about the building were beautiful carvings 
showing a procession in honor of Athene, such 
as took place in Athens every four years. This 
was the festival of which Hiero had spoken to 
Duris. The Parthenon was built in honor of 
this goddess, who was called by the Romans 
Minerva. She was the Goddess of Wisdom. 

Inside the temple there were many other 
carvings and statues, and Hiero pointed out 
with pride those which his father had made. 

“ Let us sit down for a time,” said Phorion, 
“ and look carefully at some of these groups 
of statuary. See,” he said, turning to Hiero 
and Duris, “ here, over the front of the Par¬ 
thenon, is a group which tells us of the origin 
of Pallas Athene. Duris, can you tell us the 
story which it represents?” 

Duris flushed a little, but he did not hesitate, 
for every Greek boy was supposed to know the 




24 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


stories of the gods and goddesses. These were 
among the first stories which their mothers told 
them as little children. 

“ Pallas Athene,” began Duris simply, “was 
the daughter of Zeus. She sprang from his 
head, fully grown, and clad all in armor. The 
gods were astonished at the sight, and the earth 
and sea were shaken. Athene is the Goddess 
of Wisdom. She inspires men to defend their 
homes and their cities. She teaches women the 
arts of spinning and weaving.” 

“ That is very well told,” said Hermippos, 
as Duris finished. And then he added: “ At 
the farther end of the temple we noticed an¬ 
other group of figures showing the conflict be¬ 
tween Athene and Neptune. Hiero, can you 
tell us of that? ” 

“ I think so,” replied Hiero. “ It was when 
Athens was first built, and had not yet been 
named. Both Athene and Neptune wanted the 
honor of naming the city, so the gods decided 



THE ACROPOLIS 


25 


that the one who should create the most valu¬ 
able gift for the people should give the city its 
name and guard it. 

“ Neptune struck the earth, and there sprang 
forth the horse. Then Neptune explained how 
powerful and strong the horse was, and how 
swiftly it could carry their men into battle. 

“ The people applauded Neptune, and de¬ 
clared that nothing more useful or more won¬ 
derful could be given them. But when they 
had ceased praising Neptune, Athene touched 
the ground, and an olive tree sprang up, with 
leaves and fruit. 

“ Then Athene explained to them that the 
fruit would yield them food and oil; the trunk 
would supply them with material to build their 
homes, and with fuel to keep them warm; the 
leaves would give them grateful shade; and 
the tree itself was a symbol of peace and pros¬ 
perity, while war would cause bloodshed and 


sorrow. 



26 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


“ Athene’s gift was seen to be more won¬ 
derful and more valuable than Neptune’s, and 
she was chosen to rule over the city, and to 
give it her name.” 

“That is good!” exclaimed Phorion. “I 
am glad to see that you boys understand the 
old Greek stories and can tell them so well. 
Now,” he added, “ I think we will all enjoy 
better seeing the great statue of Athene for 
having heard these stories told again.” 

Duris gazed in wonder as he stood before 
the image of the goddess, while Hiero called 
his attention to its details. 

“ You see,” he said, “ all the flesh is made 
from ivory, and the drapery is of pure gold. 
And look at the eyes. See! the pupils are of 
jewels.” 

“ What does the smaller statue, which she 
holds in her hand, represent?” asked Duris. 

“ That is the statue of Victory. Athene’s 
shield and spear are in her other hand. No- 





DURIS GAZED IN WONDER AS HE STOOD BEFORE THE IMAGE OF THE 

GODDESS.” 














































I 












































































































































































































































- 

















































THE ACROPOLIS 


27 


tice, too, the serpent coiled at her feet. The 
serpent, you know, is a symbol of wisdom.” 

“ It is a wonderful statue,” said Duris. “ I 
hope that I may sometime see Phidias, the 
sculptor.” 

“ You are quite likely to,” answered Hiero, 
“ for he visits the Acropolis often.” 

“You are fortunate to be in Athens this 
year,” said Hiero, as the little procession at 
last turned toward home. “ The festival of 
Athene occurs only once in four years. The 
frieze in the Parthenon shows you what the 
procession will be like. I am glad we can see 
it together.” 

“ So am I,” responded Duris heartily. 

As they turned into the Street of the Sculp¬ 
tors he asked: “ When does your school 

begin? ” 

“ In two days,” replied Hiero. “ I hope 
that your father is planning to send you, 


too. 




28 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


“What sort of master have you?” inquired 
Duris. 

“ Oh, he is good to the small boys,” said 
Hiero, “ but the rest of us have to mind our 
ways, for he is rather fond of using the cane.” 

“Well,” said Duris, with a laugh, “ I’ll risk 
the cane, for I, too, hope that I am to go to 
school in Athens.” 



CHAPTER IV 


PREPARING FOR THE FESTIVAL 

Hiero’s mother, Harmonia, belonged to one 
of the noblest families of Greece. She was 
famed for her beautiful handiwork, and she 
had taught Helen, her older daughter, to em¬ 
broider as beautifully as she herself could do. 
So it came about that Hiero’s older sister, 
Helen, was chosen as one of the girls who were 
to embroider a magnificent robe for the god¬ 
dess Athene. Every fourth year a new robe 
was made, and during the celebration of the 
festival of Athene it was presented as an offer¬ 
ing to the goddess. 

Of course nothing was too beautiful, or too 
costly, or too elaborate for this gift to the god¬ 
dess who ruled over Athens. The most ex¬ 
pensive materials were chosen for the robe, and 

silks of richest colorings were used to embroider 
29 


30 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


it, as well as threads of silver and gold. Only 
the best needleworkers of the city were allowed 
to work upon it. 

Athene was the goddess who presided over 
the art of needlework, and so the young girls 
of Athens offered prayers to her daily, that 
their handiwork might be worthy of a place on 
the robe. Very happy and proud were those 
who were selected to do the work. 

The figures embroidered upon the robe rep¬ 
resented a great battle which was once fought 
between the gods and the giants, and it is only 
when we remember that the statue of Athene 
was forty feet high that we can understand how 
it would be possible to embroider such a scene 
upon her robe. 

Hermippos was well pleased when he 
learned that his daughter Helen had been 
awarded so great an honor. 

“ My sister is an artist, as well as my father,” 
declared Hiero laughingly. 




PREPARING FOR THE FESTIVAL 31 


There was one more in the family of Her- 
mippos to be interested in the wonderful robe, 
and that was Chloris, the younger sister of 
Hiero. Chloris was ten years old, while Helen 
was fifteen. 

Perhaps you wonder why neither Helen nor 
Chloris had joined Hiero and Duris in their 
visits to the Acropolis or to the market-place, 
but this was a liberty never allowed to a girl 
of good family in Athens. 

The girls never went out upon the streets 
except upon some special occasion, when they 
were accompanied by slaves belonging to Har- 
monia. They were never allowed to stand in 
the doorway that looked out upon the street. 
They might look from the windows in the sec¬ 
ond story of the house, if they did not go close 
enough to be seen by people in the street below. 

The girls did not go to school, for the schools 
of Athens were for boys only. Their mother 
taught them at home all that a girl of those 



32 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


days needed to know. She taught them to 
spin and to weave, to sew and to embroider. 
She also taught them how to read and write, 
and how to play upon the lyre and sing. And 
this was much more than was taught to many 
of the girls of Athens. 

From their earliest years they w r ere told the 
stories of gods and goddesses, for this, as we 
have learned, was the religion of the Greeks. 

When members of the family were alone 
* they ate their meals together. Hermippos re¬ 
clined upon a couch, and Harmonia sat upright 
at his feet. The younger members of the 
household sat upon chairs. Each one was fur¬ 
nished with a small table, upon which food was 
placed by the slaves. 

When there were guests in the house Har¬ 
monia, Helen, and Chloris had their meals 
served in their own rooms, for the Grecian 
women did not mingle with men, except with 
those of their own family. In every Greek 



PREPARING FOR THE FESTIVAL 33 


house certain rooms on the upper floor were set 
apart for the use of the women. 

The women of Athens sometimes visited at 
the homes of relatives or friends, but not often, 
and when they went upon the street they were 
always accompanied by female slaves. 

In some of the religious festivals, however, 
the women were allowed to take a part, and 
in the festival to Athene, which would soon 
occur, they carried a part of the offerings, and 
formed a very beautiful part of the procession. 

It is no wonder, then, that Harmonia and 
Helen were now full of eager plans, for their 
life had, usually, so little of change or pleasure. 

Chloris still played with dolls, of which she 
had several. One was a rag doll, and one was 
of clay painted in bright colors. One doll, 
which she especially loved, had movable arms 
and legs, and clothes which could be taken off. 
This doll had a bed, and a two-wheeled cart 
in which Chloris drew her about. Chloris 



34 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


called her Athene, and on the days of the great 
festival Chloris intended to have a play fes¬ 
tival in the court of her home, for her doll. 
So while her sister worked among the older 
girls upon the magnificent robe for the goddess, 
Chloris sewed and embroidered busily upon a 
robe for her doll. She did the work just as 
carefully and as beautifully as she could, for 
before it would be time for another festival 
she would have put away her dolls, and, quite 
likely, would be thinking of getting married. 
Most Athenian girls were married between the 
age of fourteen and sixteen, and Chloris looked 
forward to this as a matter of course. 

Her cousin, Nicarete, had been married the 
winter before, and Chloris had been very much 
interested in all the arrangements. Nicarete 
had played with and sewed for her dolls until 
she was obliged to give them up to help her 
mother and the maids prepare the clothing 
which she was to wear as a bride. 



PREPARING FOR THE FESTIVAL 35 


When this time came, Nicarete collected her 
dolls, with all the beautiful garments that she 
had made for them, and in the care of slaves 
she went to the temple of the goddess Artemis 
and there laid her girlhood treasures upon the 
altar. She offered a prayer to the goddess, and 
then returned home to prepare for the new life 
in her husband’s home. 

Then beautiful garments were made, and 
there was much excitement in the usually quiet 
rooms of the women’s apartments. Nicarete 
often wondered what her husband would be 
like, for she had seen him only twice and then 
at public festivals. The marriage had been 
arranged by her father and his. 

Chloris had gone to the wedding and she 
remembered the sacrifices that were offered to 
the marriage gods and the great feast that fol¬ 
lowed. 

At this feast all the guests, both men and 
women, ate together, but the children were 




36 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


served apart from their elders, and with sim¬ 
pler food. 

She remembered how pretty Nicarete had 
looked in her bridal clothes, with the veil, and 
ribbons, and flowers in her hair; and how 
Hiero had gone about among the guests, bear¬ 
ing proudly a basketful of cakes, and singing: 
“ I fled from misfortune; I found a better lot.” 

Chloris had been away from home so few 
times during her life that this wedding had 
made a great impression upon her, and she had 
had weddings for her dolls many times since 
then. She wondered how she would feel when 
she should have to carry her dolls to the tem¬ 
ple and leave them upon the altar, as her cousin 
Nicarete had done. 

“ It will be very exciting, I am sure,” she 
confided to her doll, Athene, as she sewed upon 
her robe, “ and I hope my husband will be a 
great artist, like my father.” 




CHAPTER V 


AT SCHOOL 

“ Now for school! ” exclaimed Hiero, as he 
and Duris left the house early in the morning, 
their pedagogues, Philo and Theron, following 
them as usual. 

“We go to the grammar school in the morn¬ 
ing,” Hiero explained, as they walked along, 
“ and to the wrestling school in the afternoon. 
I am doing my best in wrestling and running, 
for I am looking forward to the Olympian 
games. I hope sometime to enter the contest 
for boys.” 

“ That will be fine,” exclaimed Duris, with 
sparkling eyes. “ You ought to run well,” he 
added, looking with admiration at Hiero’s 
strong, graceful figure. 

“ Not better than many others,” replied 
37 


38 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


Hiero modestly. “ But one would hardly hope 
to win in the first race he entered.” 

“ It is well worth trying for, at any rate,” 
responded Duris. Then, with a laugh, he said, 
“ Look at the boy yonder, on stilts. He man¬ 
ages them pretty awkwardly. I think he is 
likely to have a fall.” 

“ He surely will,” said Hiero, laughingly, 
“ and he is likely to be late at school.” 

“What is this?” asked Duris, as they came 
upon a group of boys standing about an old 
man who was seated at an angle of the road. 

“ Oh,” said Duris, “ it is a street school. 
The master is not very well fitted to teach, and 
he cannot afford to hire a room, but people who 
can pay little send their boys to him and he 
teaches them out of doors. I suppose they 
find it better than no school at all.” 

“ I should think it would be difficult for the 
boys to keep their minds upon their lessons,” 
said Duris. 



AT SCHOOL 


39 


“ I should, too,” responded Hiero, “ but you 
see they have chosen a quiet street corner, 
where there is not likely to be much excite¬ 
ment.” 

“ O-ho! ” Hiero exclaimed, a moment later, 
pointing to the house they were passing. “ My 
friend Cleon lives here, and I see by the wreath 
upon the door that he has a new brother.” 

“ Ah,” said Duris, “ we have the same cus¬ 
tom of hanging a wreath upon the door when 
a boy is born, in the Island. And do they wrap 
bands of wool about the door posts, in Athens, 
when a girl is born? ” 

“ Yes,” replied Hiero. “ I suppose that is 
because the girls must spin and weave.” 

“ Here come some of the younger boys of 
our school,” said Hiero, dodging as he spoke, 
for the boys were running rapidly, and rolling 
hoops as they ran. The hoops had small bells 
set inside the circle and the bells chimed mer¬ 
rily as they were rolled. 




40 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


The schoolroom which Hiero and Duris 
entered was plainly furnished. It had a seat 
for the master, and benches for the boys. Each 
pupil had a waxed tablet, upon which he wrote 
with a stylus. The sharp, end of the stylus cut 
the letters in the wax; the flat end rubbed the 
wax smooth after the lesson was finished. 

The master read to the pupils from the 
poems of Homer, and the boys wrote the lines 
on their tablets. Then they read the lines 
aloud, and afterward committed them to mem¬ 
ory. 

Homer was the greatest of the Greek poets. 
His best known poem was the Iliad, which told 
of the Trojan War. Though this poem was 
composed more than twenty-five hundred years 
ago, it is still one of the most wonderful poems 
ever written, and people to-day enjoy it just 
as much as the people of Greece did at the time 
that Hiero and Duris were going to school. 

Some of the older pupils could repeat nearly 




1 



J) 


“ the master read to the pupils from the poems of homer 
































AT SCHOOL 


41 


the whole poem, for it aroused the enthusiasm 
of every Greek boy. It told of a great war 
between the Greeks and the Trojans, or people 
of Troy. This war lasted for nine years, and 
at last the Greeks were victorious. 

The legends tell us that Homer, the poet 
who wrote the Iliad, was poor and blind. But 
he was a welcome guest wherever he went, for 
he sang his wonderful verses to the music of 
his lyre. Every host was glad to have such a 
singer entertain his guests. 

One of the rulers of Athens, named Peisis- 
tratus, understood, better than any one else had 
done, the value of Homer’s poems. He called 
together at Athens all persons who knew these 
poems, and he had them sing or recite them. 
Although this was long after Homer’s death, 
his poems never had been written. They had 
been sung and recited year after year at festi¬ 
vals and gatherings of the people, and one 
person had learned them from another. Now 




42 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


Peisistratus had them written, in the form that 
had been given best, so that they should never 
after be forgotten or changed. 

After that, many copies were made, each 
one written by hand on a parchment scroll. 

So we may see why, in the schools such as 
Hiero and Duris attended, only the master had 
a copy of the poems, and the pupils had to 
write the lines as they were read to them, and 
afterward commit them to memory. 

After the reading and writing the boys were 
given a lesson upon the lyre, for at the gath¬ 
erings and entertainments at their homes the 
men of Greece often sang and played for their 
guests. The boys at school were taught the 
best music as a very important part of their 
education. This was done not only that they 
might entertain guests, but in order that they 
might become gentle and quiet in manner. 
Then, too, the boys were taught to sing so that 
they could join in the choruses in honor of the 



AT SCHOOL 


43 


gods, and that they might learn the war songs 
of the soldier, for the Greek army sang when¬ 
ever it went into battle. 

The boys of the wealthier families in Athens 
did not expect to earn their living, or to take 
part in the business life of the city when they 
were grown, nor did their parents expect them 
to do so. Their time would be given to political 
and social affairs; to an enjoyment of art and 
music; and to the beauties and pleasures of 
life. If there should be war, many of them 
would go as officers or soldiers, but the every¬ 
day work and trade of the city was left to 
slaves, or to citizens of the poorer class, who 
were looked down upon because they must 
work for their daily living. 

“ Father,” said Hiero, as the boys entered 
Hermippos’ studio after school, “ I had a 
pretty warm argument with Euphronius, at 
school, to-day. He taunted me by saying that 
you worked with your hands, as the potters 



44 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


and trades-people do, while Duris’ father 
thought of marvellous plans for buildings, but 
had slaves to cut and lay the stones.” 

“And what reply did you make to him?” 
asked Hermippos with a smile, yet flushing a 
little. 

Phorion, who was present, showed his in¬ 
terest also in Hiero’s reply. 

“ I told him that you thought of such beau¬ 
tiful carvings and statues that you could find 
no one with skill enough to work them out 
for you.” 

“Very good!” exclaimed Phorion heartily. 
“ I think this Euphronius you speak of could 
find little to say to that.” And then he added 
more seriously: “ Surely it is only the thought¬ 
less and the ignorant who can confound the 
work of a sculptor with that of a potter, or a 
maker of sandals.” 




CHAPTER VI 


THE WRESTLING SCHOOL 

To have a strong and beautiful body was 
considered by the Greeks almost as important 
as to have a well-trained mind; so every Greek 
boy was taught to run, to jump, to throw, and 
to wrestle. There were separate schools in 
which the boys were trained in all these exer¬ 
cises. We would call such a school a gymna¬ 
sium, but in Athens it was called a wrestling 
school. 

Duris had found that he could read and 

write quite as well as Hiero, and he could play 

upon the lyre even better, but as they were on 

their way to the wrestling school he said, “ You 

will be far in advance of me in running and 

wrestling, I know, for I have had no training in 

gymnastics. Of course,” he added, “ we boys 
45 


46 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


had contests of our own on the Island, but we 
had no teacher. My pedagogue, Theron, 
taught me to read and to write, and my mother 
taught me to play upon the lyre, but I have 
had no training in running or wrestling^!- 

“ There is to be a contest in jumping in the 
school this afternoon,” said Hiero. “ You will 
be interested in that. Some of the boys can 
jump a remarkable distance.” 

The wrestling school consisted of a large 
open court, around which was a covered por¬ 
tico, divided into small rooms and halls. Duris 
looked eagerly about him. A large number of 
boys were already in the court. One was just 
mounting a horse. There were no stirrups, and 
he used his lance to help him vault to .its back. 
In another part of the grounds a young man 
was practising spear-throwing. But these boys 
were older than Hiero or himself. 

“ Come,” said Hiero, touching his arm, 
“ they are getting ready to jump.” 




THE WRESTLING SCHOOL 


47 


Duris stood aside with a group of boys while 
Hiero took his place among the contestants. 

A line was drawn upon the ground, crossing 
a small mound. One by one the boys who were 
to take part in the contest ran from a distance 
to this line, and then jumped from the mound. 

Duris exclaimed at the length of the jump 
as the first boy came lightly to the ground. A 
young man ran forward and drew a line to 
mark the distance. 

Hiero was the second to jump, and his mark 
was in advance of the first. 

“Surely no one can do better than that!” 
exclaimed Duris to one of the boys standing 
near him. 

“Oh, you just wait and see!” replied the 
boy. “ Hiero is not a great jumper. But when 
it comes to running! Well, they talk about his 
being a contestant at the games some day. You 
should see him run! 

“Look! Here comes our greatest jumper 




48 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


now. It is Cleon. Be prepared for a sur¬ 
prise.” 

And Duris was surprised. It seemed to him 
as though the boy before him must have wings, 
for he seemed truly to fly through the air from 
the mound, and the mark that he made was 
so far ahead of all the others that the differ¬ 
ence itself would have been a creditable leap 
for one who had had no training. 

A great shout arose from the boys, and Duris 
joined it heartily. 

“ That is what training does! ” exclaimed 
the boy at his side. 

“But have the others had less training?” 
asked Duris. 

“ Perhaps not,” answered the boy, “ but 
Cleon has practised jumping more than any 
other exercise, and there is no one of his age 
or size who can begin to leap as far.” 

When all the contestants had taken their 
turn, the length of each jump was measured 



THE WRESTLING SCHOOL 


49 


with a long chain, so that a record could be 
kept for each pupil. 

After that there were exercises in running, 
and in quoit throwing. Duris became more and 
more interested, and when a torch race was 
begun, he himself took part. This race did not 
require so much speed as it did skill in keeping 
one’s torch lighted while running, and at this 
Duris, to his own surprise, did remarkably well. 

“ You will enter the regular classes to-mor¬ 
row,” the master said to him, as he and Hiero 
were about to leave, and though Duris knew 
that he would fall far behind his companions 
at the start he determined to make the most of 
his training and to gain strength and speed as 
fast as possible. 

Phorion was given a glowing account of the 
wrestling school that night. When Duris had 
finished, Phorion said, “ I am glad you are to 
have this training. But do not forget to seek 
grace and symmetry, as well as strength and 



50 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


speed. Let me show you what I mean,” and 
he led the way into Hermippos’ studio. 

Lifting the cloth with which it was covered, 
he pointed to a magnificent statue which Her¬ 
mippos had that day completed. 

“ This,” said Phorion, “ is a statue of The¬ 
seus attacking the Minotaur. Do you boys 
remember the story? ” he asked, for Hiero was 
also in the studio. 

“Tell it to us, Father,” said Duris, “even 
though we have heard it before.” 

“ Very well,” said Phorion, seating himself, 
while the boys stood respectfully before him. 

“ Many years ago,” he began, “ the city of 
Athens had to pay tribute every year to King 
Minos, of the Island of Crete. This yearly 
tribute did not consist in money, but in seven 
of the fairest youths and seven of the fairest 
maidens of the city. They were taken in a 
ship to the Island of Crete, where they were 
devoured by a terrible monster called a Mino- 



THE WRESTLING SCHOOL 


51 


taur. This monster had the body of a man 
and the head of a bull. 

“ At the time of our story the King of Ath¬ 
ens had a son named Theseus, who was as 
brave as he was strong and beautiful. When 
the time of the yearly tribute came near, The¬ 
seus declared that he was ready to go to Crete 
as one of the victims of the Minotaur. 

“ The people begged him not to go, but he 
was determined, and perhaps something in his 
face or manner told them that it was best to 
let him have his way. It might be that some 
good would come of it. 

“When the ship arrived at Crete, Theseus, 
as the king’s son, demanded that he be allowed 
to see King Minos. 

“As he stood before him, he said: ‘ Oh, 
King, I have come to pay the tribute of my city. 
But as the son of my royal father, I ask that 
I may first meet the Minotaur alone.’ 

“ King Minos laughed scornfully at Theseus, 



52 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


but he could not refuse his demand, so he sent 
him forth to meet the Minotaur, and promised 
that his companions should speedily follow. 

“ But while King Minos laughed at Theseus, 
the king’s daughter, Ariadne, determined that 
she would help him. She admired the brave 
youth, and she knew of the magic means which 
would enable Theseus to overcome the Mino¬ 
taur. 

“ Ariadne followed him when he left her fa¬ 
ther’s palace, and promised him her help. She 
told Theseus that the Minotaur was not only 
strong and powerful, but that he lived in a 
winding abode, called a labyrinth, from which 
no one ever could find their way back. But she 
promised to give him a sword which was a 
magic weapon. ‘ If you can but touch the 
Minotaur with it,’ she said, ‘ his strength will 
leave him, and you will have no trouble in 
killing him. But,’ she added, 1 before you enter 
the labyrinth, you must fasten this cord just 




THE WRESTLING SCHOOL 


53 


outside and unwind the ball as you go. Then, 
when you have killed the Minotaur, you can 
follow the cord back, and so reach the entrance 
to the labyrinth.’ 

“ Theseus thankfully took the sword and the 
ball of cord, and did as Ariadne had told him. 
He reached the Minotaur, and a terrible strug¬ 
gle followed, but at length Theseus thrust the 
magic sword into the Minotaur’s body, and 
slew him. Then, following the cord as Ariadne 
had directed, he made his way back to the 
opening of the labyrinth. Hastily summoning 
his companions, they once more boarded the 
ship and sailed away to Athens. 

“ Never, after that, did Athens have to pay 
tribute to Crete, and the memory of Theseus 
is honored in Athens to this day. 

“ This figure, as you see,” added Phorion, 
“ represents Theseus attacking the Minotaur, 
and the reason that I brought you in to see it 
just now is that you may study the figure of 




54 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


the young hero. You will notice how Hermip- 
pos has shown his strength by the powerful 
muscles, and by the manner in which he stands. 
But that is not all that makes the figure so won¬ 
derfully good. It is the grace of the figure as 
well as the strength; the perfect development 
of every part of the body, not of one particular 
part. Do you understand what I mean? ” 

“ I think I do,” responded Duris slowly, 
while he 'looked earnestly at the marble figure 
before him. 

“ Then,” said Phorion, “ you will understand 
what I mean when I tell you that I want you 
to think no more about the distance you can 
run, or jump, or throw a quoit, than you do 
about the manner in which you run, or jump, 
or throw. I want you, in other words,” con¬ 
cluded Phorion, “ to make your body graceful, 
symmetrical, and strong: equally ready for the 
demands of art, or for heroic deeds.” 

Hiero and Duris looked for a long time at 



THE WRESTLING SCHOOL 


55 


the figure of Theseus, and when they left the 
studio both felt that they understood the beauty 
of the sculptured hero better for having lis¬ 
tened to Phorion’s words. 


7 




CHAPTER VII 


THE FESTIVAL 

Many festivals were held in Athens, for the 
people loved the processions and games and 
contests. But there was another reason for 
them. Each festival was held in honor of some 
god or goddess, and so was intended to win 
their protection and favor. 

Of all the many festivals no other was half 
so splendid as the one held in honor of Pallas 
Athene. This festival was held once in four 
years. It was called the Panathenaea, and the 
celebration lasted for many days. 

As the time for it drew near, Hiero and 
Duris grew more and more eager. 

Duris had now been in Athens nearly a year, 

and he had made fine progress in both the 

grammar and wrestling schools. He no longer 
56 


THE FESTIVAL 


57 


found it difficult to go about the streets of the 
city, with their many turns. Almost every day 
he and Hiero went to the market-place, or to 
the Acropolis, where they watched the build¬ 
ing of the music hall which Phorion had 
planned. 

Hiero had told Duris all that he could re¬ 
member about the last Panathenaea, and little 
else was talked of among the boys at school. 
Both Hiero and Duris were to take part in the 
contests this year — Hiero in the running race 
for boys, and Duris in the torch race. Four 
years before, Hiero had thought it wonderful 
to watch the great festival. Now he was proud 
and happy to think that he was to take part 
in it himself. 

At last the great day came. Even Chloris 
was to see the procession, and she was placed 
under the care of trusted slaves belonging to 
her mother. Harmonia and Helen were to 
have a prominent place among the women who 



58 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


were to take part in the sacrifices, and in the 
great procession. 

The first day was given up to musical con¬ 
tests. The chief event was the singing of a 
hymn to Apollo. This was sung to the music 
of the lyre, and the hymn told of the victory 
of Apollo, the god of music and of light, over 
the Python, which represented darkness. 

There were choruses of men’s voices; and 
poems were recited to music. 

Judges called the name of the winner in each 
contest, and he received a sum of money, while 
a beautiful wreath of gold was placed upon his 
head. 

“ Of course the music was fine,” said Hiero, 
as he and Duris returned home, “ but I can 
scarcely wait for to-morrow.” 

The boys were up the next morning before 
daylight, for the gymnastic contests began at 
sunrise. The first one was the running race 
for boys, and Hiero was to take part. 





u 


>> 


WITHIN A FEW FEET OF THE LINE HE SPED LIKE AN ARROW 

















. 

1 ■ 1 





































































































































THE FESTIVAL 


59 


“ Don’t forget any of the rules,” cautioned 
Duris, as he left Hiero, “ and be sure to save 
strength for the final dash. I’ll cheer you on 
with all my might,” he added, “ and I hope 
you’ll win.” 

Hiero stood among the boys who were to 
enter the race, and oh! how he did hope he 
might win, so that some time he might be 
thought worthy to compete in the Olympic 
games. 

The boys were soon given their places at the 
starting line; they took the position which had 
been taught them at the wrestling school, the 
signal was given, and away they darted. Each 
one put forth his best efforts, but Hiero re¬ 
membered Duris’ parting words, “ Remember 
to save strength for the final dash,” and within 
a few feet of the line he sped like an arrow 
away from the one boy who had kept abreast 
of him — and touched the goal. 

How Duris cheered! And all the people 



60 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


cheered; while Hiero, flushed and happy, saw 
his name written, the first victor in the gym¬ 
nastic contests. A prize would be given him 
at the close of the day. 

The boys of the wrestling school crowded 
around to shake his hand, and wherever he 
went during the remainder of the festival, 
he was greeted with smiles and congratula¬ 
tions. 

After the races of the boys, came those of 
the young men, and later, those of the older 
men. Besides running, there were wrestling 
and boxing contests, and it was several days 
before all were finished. 

Then came contests of another sort, in which 
horses were used. There were horseback races, 
with spear throwing, and chariot races, in 
which four horses were driven abreast, hitched 
to a two-wheeled chariot. The driver stood 
upright, and a second man rode in the chariot. 
While the horses were running at full speed, 




THE FESTIVAL 


61 


the latter jumped from the chariot to the 
ground, and up again to his place. 

Next came chariot races by soldiers dressed 
in armor; and then a dance by warriors with 
glittering shields, and spears, and helmets, who 
moved to the music of the flute, and at times 
sang a stirring chorus. 

The torch race took place in the evening. 

“ Now,” said Hiero to Duris, “ you must 
show your skill in handling the torch. I shall 
cheer for you, and I expect you to win.” 

Duris laughed. “ I will do my best,” he 
answered, as he took his place among the torch 
bearers. 

As the signal was given, each boy lighted his 
torch at the altar fire, and then they sped 
toward the goal — but not too swiftly, lest 
their flame should be blown out. It was a 
merry race, and a pretty one, too. 

One by one the racers stopped, as their speed 
put out their flames, while others dropped far 




62 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


behind, hoping thus to keep their torches burn¬ 
ing, and so win in the end. 

Duris and another boy named Callias were 
in the lead. As they drew near the goal they 
were side by side. Still abreast, they had 
almost reached it when Callias dashed ahead. 
But the sudden dash put out the flame of his 
torch, and Duris, with his torch still burning, 
touched the goal. 

Then it was Hiero’s turn to cheer, and 
Duris’ turn to flush with pleasure at the great 
shout that went up from all the people. 

“ Ah, we have each won a prize,” said Hiero, 
as he grasped Duris’ hand. “ I am glad of 
that.” 

But the greatest day of the festival was yet 
to come. That was the day upon which the 
sacrifices were offered, and the great procession 
went up to the temple of Pallas Athene. 




CHAPTER VIII 


THE GREAT PROCESSION 

The procession started at sunrise. Hiero 
and Duris, as victors in the races, were to 
march; Hermippos and Phorion would ride on 
horseback; and Harmonia and Helen were to 
carry offerings and garlands. 

There were great preparations in the home 
of Hermippos, and all the household rose long 
before daylight. Even Chloris was not for¬ 
gotten. She was placed in the care of some 
of Harmonia’s most faithful slaves, who were 
to see that she had a good place from which to 
view the great procession. 

The priests, who were to offer the sacrifices, 

took their places at the head of the long line. 

Then followed the foremost men of Athens, 

and after these the men from other states and 
63 


64 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


colonies, who had been sent to do honor to 
the goddess. These bore offerings which were 
to be placed upon the altar. 

After them came the younger women, who 
bore incense, and costly vessels of silver and 
gold, which were to be used when the offerings 
were made. Helen was among the younger 
women, and they formed a beautiful part of 
the procession. They wore garlands upon their 
heads and girdles to bind the graceful drapery 
of their garments. 

Other women, carrying cakes, and fruit, and 
wine, for offerings, came after. Among these, 
Harmonia walked with dignity and grace. 

Following these were the older men of the 
city, and then came the four-horse chariots with 
the drivers that had taken part in the races. 

One part of the procession was made up of 
a great number of cows and sheep that were to 
be sacrificed upon the altar, and with them 
were the herders who kept them in order. 



THE GREAT PROCESSION ' 


65 


Then came the cavalry, with generals and 
soldiers on horseback; and private citizens 
riding fine horses that danced and pranced to 
the music of the fifes and citharas. Among this 
group rode Hermippos and Phorion. 

Following these were the soldiers on foot, 
and then the victors in the contests, with Hiero 
and Duris walking side by side, and bearing 
themselves proudly, as victors should. 

But the most wonderful part of the proces¬ 
sion was the great ship, set upon rollers, so 
that it could be drawn through the streets. 
Stretched like a sail from its mast was the 
splendid robe which had been made for the 
goddess. The figures of the gods and the 
giants in their terrific battle had been so won¬ 
derfully embroidered that the whole seemed 
more like a great painting than like a piece of 
needlework. The people looked upon it in 
wonder, and felt that it was, indeed, an offer¬ 
ing worthy of Athene. 



66 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


The procession passed the market-place, 
moved slowly about the Acropolis, and then 
stopped at the foot of the broad, marble 
steps. 

At this point, while all the people waited, 
the robe was taken from the ship, and then, 
as it was carried up the steps to the temple 
of Athene, the procession again moved for¬ 
ward. 

Upon the altar which stood before the tem¬ 
ple the women placed their offerings; the 
priests presented the animals as a sacrifice to 
the goddess; the new robe was brought forth 
and placed in the temple before the wonderful 
statue of the goddess, and the great pageant 
of the Panathenaea was ended. 

Then the people formed themselves into 
family groups, and seated themselves here and 
there for the banquets which always followed 
the sacrifices. The meat of the animals offered 
upon the altar was divided among the people, 




THE GREAT PROCESSION 


67 


and a great feast finished the chief day of the 
festival. 

Two tired boys stretched themselves upon 
their couches that night, but before they slept, 
Hiero called, “ Don’t you dare to over¬ 
sleep, Duris, for you know we go, to-mor¬ 
row, to the regatta at the Piraeus! ” “ Call 

me if you waken first,” replied Duris; 
and in another moment they were both 
asleep. 

The next that they knew there was the clat¬ 
ter of hoofs, the rumble of chariot wheels, and 
the shouts and calls of men in the streets out¬ 
side. 

“ The people are already on their way to the 
Piraeus,” called Hiero, springing up. 

In a few moments he and Duris were eating 
a hasty breakfast. It had not taken them long 
to dress, for each boy had only to slip into a 
single garment, called a chiton, and he was 
ready for the day. The boys wore sandals upon 




68 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


their feet outside the house, but no hats at any 
time. 

Their pedagogues were ready to attend them, 
and they soon joined the gay throng in the 
streets. 

“ This is the last day of the festival,” said 
Hiero, “ and we must make the most of 
it.” 

On the two great walls which connected Ath¬ 
ens with its seaport were soldiers on horseback, 
chariots, and bands of musicians, all moving 
toward the Piraeus. In the wide space between 
the walls throngs of people on foot were press¬ 
ing eagerly in the same direction. It was not 
an orderly procession, like that of the day 
before, but a great mass of pleasure-seekers, 
bent upon making the most of the last day of 
the festival. 

The boys ran in and out among the people. 
Philo and Theron found it difficult to keep them 
in sight. The strange dress of the men from 



THE GREAT PROCESSION 


69 


other states, the gay trappings of the soldiers, 
and the prancing of the horses, kept them look¬ 
ing first upon one side and then upon the other. 
Hiero was startled when Duris at length ex¬ 
claimed, “Oh, Hiero, look! The sea!” 

Blue and sparkling, the waters of the Medi¬ 
terranean stretched away before him, as far as 
he could see. For a moment he stood quite 
still, enjoying the beauty of it. Then he darted 
swiftly down to the water’s edge. 

The harbor was filled with ships. Some 
were sailing slowly before a lazy breeze, while 
others were rowed briskly by hundreds of glis¬ 
tening oars. 

The great bows of the ships, rising high 
above the water, were carved into the figures 
of gods or of heroes. 

Presently the ships drew up into line. 
“ They are getting ready for the race! ” ex¬ 
claimed Hiero. 

After what seemed to the boys a long time, 



70 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


the signal was given, the oars of each ship 
struck the water together, and the race had 
begun. 

It was a beautiful sight, and the boys watched 
it with breathless interest. 

The crowds cheered as one vessel and then 
another led in the race. And when one ship 
came back into the harbor far ahead of the 
others, there was a great shout from all the 
people. The crew of this vessel were declared 
the victors, and were presented with costly 
gifts, after which a great feast was made for 
them. 

When the race was over, the boys suddenly 
discovered that they were hungry. So they 
found a comfortable place upon the shore, and 
soon were enjoying the lunch which Philo and 
Theron had brought from home. 

Late in the afternoon Hiero and Duris, tired 
but happy, returned to Athens. 




THE GREAT PROCESSION 


71 


“ The big festival is ended,” said Duris with 
a sigh. 

“ Yes,” replied Hiero, “ but in Athens there 
are festivals every month — though none quite 
so fine as the Panathenaea.” 




CHAPTER IX 


HIERO’S UNCLE IS ILL 

“ My uncle is very ill,” said Hiero, as he 
joined Duris a few mornings after the Panath- 
enaea. “ My father is going with him to the 
temple of the god of healing.” 

“ We had a physician in the Island who came 
to see my mother when she was ill,” said Duris. 
“ Have you no physician in Athens?” 

“ Oh, yes,” answered Hiero quickly, “ but 
such wonderful cures are reported at the tem¬ 
ple that my uncle wishes to be taken there.” 

“ The physician who came to cure my 
mother,” said Duris, “ brought an orator with 
him.” 

“.An orator! ” exclaimed Hiero. “ Why was 
that?” 

“ Because the physician was afraid my 
72 


HIERO’S UNCLE IS ILL 


73 


mother would not want to take his medicine. 
The orator told her how good the physician’s 
medicine was for her trouble, and how many 
persons it had cured. He talked a very long 
time about her illness, and how it should be 
treated. When he had finished, my mother 
felt certain that the medicine would cure her. 
She took it, and was well again in a few days.” 

“ That was good,” said Hiero. “ I hope the 
priests in the temple will do as much for my 
uncle.” 

“Will they give him medicine?” asked 
Duris. 

“ They will bathe him, and have him sleep 
in the open air on the porch of the temple. He 
will have warm sunlight, and breezes from the 
ocean. Then perhaps the god will tell him in 
a dream what he must do to be cured. 

u I have been in the temple,” Hiero contin¬ 
ued. “ It is filled with offerings brought by 
people who have been cured. There are mod- 




74 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


els of feet and hands and arms, made from 
stone or wax; and there are cocks and other 
animals made from clay, which poor people 
have brought. But there are beautiful gifts, 
too: cups of silver, and of gold, and orna¬ 
ments, and precious jewels.” 

Just then the boys heard steps close beside 
them, and turning, they saw Donax and Aga- 
thon, two old slaves of Hermippos. 

“ You were speaking of your uncle’s sick¬ 
ness,” said Agathon. “ If I had anything to 
say about the matter I should send to the house 
of Crito for a drug which he alone knows how 
to prepare. It is made from a plant which 
grows near the top of a mountain. It is a 
certain cure for the sickness and pain which 
troubles your uncle.” 

“ But cannot the priests of the temple tell 
my uncle of this drug?” asked Hiero. 

“ Bah! ” exclaimed the slave. “ The priests 
know nothing of it. It was revealed to the 




HIERO’S UNCLE IS ILL 


75 


family of Crito many, many years ago, and 
it is known only to them. It is a secret cure,” 
added Agathon, “ but it is certain.” 

“ The drug of Crito may be good,” said 
Donax, the second slave, “ but I have little 
faith in drugs. I would think it safer to send 
for our own slave, Menodora. She can drive 
away the disease by chanting and by the use of 
charms.” 

“ How can charms and chants cure sick¬ 
ness?” asked Hiero. 

“ Ah,” said the old slave, “ they please the 
evil spirit who brings the sickness, so that he 
leaves the one who has been troubled. It is 
easy to believe,” he added: “ cannot the one 
who brings sickness take it away again?” 

“ Bah,” exclaimed Agathon, a second time. 
“ I have no faith in chants or charm strings, 
and I warn you that our master, Hermippos, 
would not thank you to teach such foolishness 
to these boys.” 




76 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


At this, both Hiero and Duris laughed. 
“ Don’t be alarmed, Agathon,” said Duris. 
“ I can match Donax’ story with one of my 
own. A poor boy who lived not far from us 
on the Island was taken with terrible pains in 
his hip. One of the slaves ran to quite a dis¬ 
tance to get a young puppy. He brought it 
home in his arms and laid it against the boy’s 
bare hip. He said that the puppy would absorb 
the pain and his young master would be well. 
In an hour’s time the boy was entirely cured, 
we were told. But,” added Duris, “ I forgot 
to ask whether the puppy showed signs of pain 
afterward! ” 

“Doubtless it did! Doubtless it did!” ex¬ 
claimed Donax, shaking his head solemnly. “ I 
have heard often of this treatment. It is very 
good indeed.” 

Hiero and Duris exchanged a smile at the old 
slave’s faith, but Agathon gave vent once more 
to his favorite expression, “ Bah! ” 



HIERO’S UNCLE IS ILL 


77 


“ But,” said Hiero, earnestly, “ there can be 
no doubt of the cures wrought in the temple. 
I, myself, have read the tablets. One tells of 
a dumb boy who went there with his father. 
They offered a sacrifice. Then the slave of the 
god asked the boy’s father if he would prom¬ 
ise that his boy would make a thanksgiving 
offering if he were cured within a year. And 
the boy answered, ‘ I will.’ And after that he 
could speak as others do.” 

“ And do you remember, Hiero,” said Duris, 
“one tablet told of a lame man? A boy 
snatched his crutch and ran away with it, and 
the lame man sprang to his feet and chased 
the boy.” 

“ Yes, I remember,” said Hiero. “ I should 
like to have seen that cure.” 



CHAPTER X 


FESTIVAL OF THE BEAR 

“ I wish I were old enough to go hunting,” 
said Hiero, as a young man wearing a broad 
hat and high boots passed along the street, 
followed by several hunting dogs. 

“ How odd he looks,” exclaimed Duris, for 
usually the men of Athens went about with bare 
heads and with sandals on the feet. 

“Yes,” replied Hiero, “he does look odd. 
But he will find need for the high boots to pro¬ 
tect him from brush and thorns.” 

“ I wonder what he expects to hunt,”, said 
Duris. “ I see he carries a javelin.” 

“ I suppose he will hunt bear and make an 

offering to Artemis,” said Hiero. “ It will not 

be long before the festival of Artemis, and 

bear skins will be in demand for that, though 
78 


FESTIVAL OF THE BEAR 


79 


I think there are few bears near Athens. Helen 
and Chloris are to see the feast,” he added. 
“I don’t care about the festival, of course; 
that is only for girls. But I would like to join 
the hunt.” 

“How do the men hunt, here in Greece?” 
asked Duris. 

“ They usually have dogs, -as this man has,” 
replied Hiero, “ and the dogs are splendidly 
trained. The men have nets spread, and when 
the dogs find the game they drive it toward 
the net. Some of the nets are made in the 
form of a bag, which can be drawn up to hold 
the animal after it is caught. Other nets hang 
from sticks. When an animal runs into one 
of these the net falls and the animal gets tan¬ 
gled in it. Then the hunter can easily throw 
his javelin and kill it. 

“ The hunters often have to go through thick 
brush to follow the dogs to the game. Some¬ 
times the brush is thorny. That is why they 




80 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


have to wear the high boots. I have a pet hare 
which father brought me. He caught it in a 
bag net one day while hunting. I soon tamed 
it and it eats from my hands. Would you like 
to see it? ” 

“ Yes, indeed,” said Duris; “ I like animals. 
Father sometimes tell me that I should live on 
a farm. At home I had several pigeons, and 
a pet monkey that was up to all sorts of mis¬ 
chief. 

“ I have always wanted to get a peep into 
the temple of Artemis,’’ continued Duris with 
a laugh, “ for I have been told that a live bear 
is kept there.” 

“ Perhaps it is true,” responded Hiero. 
“ You know the sign of Artemis is a bear.” 

But if the boys were not interested in the 
coming festival of Artemis, the girls, Chloris 
and Helen, certainly were, and Chloris talked 
of it from morning till night. When Harmonia 
and the slaves grew tired of listening to her, 



FESTIVAL OF THE BEAR 


81 


or of answering her questions, she turned to 
her dolls. They never failed to listen quietly, 
no matter how many times she told them of the 
fun that was in store for her. 

“ You know,” she began, one day, shaking 
her finger earnestly at the oldest doll, “ that 
Artemis is goddess of the moon. Her sign is 
a bear. Wait and I will show you one.” 

Chloris looked among her treasures until she 
found the figure of a small bear, cut from stone. 

Seating herself once more before her dolls, 
she continued: “This is a bear. See! It is 
the sign of Artemis. If you will listen I will 
tell you why. 

“ Once upon a time Artemis was changed 
into a bear. She had long claws and a growly 
voice and black hair all over her. And she 
walked on four feet, though sometimes she 
forgot and stood up straight. The reason she 
was changed into a bear was because the god¬ 
dess Hera was aAgry with her. 




82 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


“ One day Artemis’ son went into the woods 
to hunt. He didn’t know his mother had been 
changed into a bear, so when he saw a bear in 
the woods he took up his bow and arrow to 
shoot it. But it was his own mother! She 
couldn’t talk and tell him who she was, but 
Zeus saw what a dreadful thing was going 
to happen, so, before the boy could shoot, he 
snatched them both away, and placed them 
among the stars in the heavens. Up there they 
are called the Big and Little Bears, and the 
tip end of the Little Bear’s tail is the North 
Star. 

Artemis, you know,” continued Chloris, 
“ has a beautiful temple in the Acropolis, and 
every year she has a festival. 

This year,” Chloris added, shaking her 
finger impressively, “ I am going to the fes¬ 
tival. Only women and girls go. We dress 
in bear skins and dance the bear dance around 
the altar in the temple. Then we have a feast 



FESTIVAL OF THE BEAR 


83 


and I shall meet other girls. Oh! I am so glad 
that there are some festivals that we girls can 
go to! 

“ Come,” she suddenly cried, catching up one 
of the dolls, “ I shall dress you as Artemis, 
and these little dolls shall be bears, and we 
will play festival, just as soon as I get you 
dressed.” 




CHAPTER XI 


THE NEW SLAVE 

“ Father,” asked Hiero one morning, “ did 
I hear you say that you needed another slave? ” 

“Yes,” replied Hermippos. “Why do you 
ask?” 

“ Because I saw Cimon bringing a number 
of slaves into the city yesterday.” 

“ That is good,” said Hermippos. “ I must 
visit his market to-day.” 

“May Duris and I go with you?” asked 
Hiero. 

“ Yes, if you wish,” replied Hermippos, and 
Hiero ran quickly to tell Duris to be ready. 

They were soon on their way, with the usual 

number of slaves. The purchase of a slave was 

always an event to Hiero, but he thought no 

more about his father’s buying one than an 
84 



THE SLAVES WERE UPON A PLATFORM WHERE THEY COULD BE SEEN BY 
THOSE WHO WISHED TO BUY.” 











THE NEW SLAVE 


85 


American boy or an English boy would think 
about his father’s buying a new horse. 

Every family had slaves, and even the poor¬ 
est families had one. If any one had asked 
Hiero whether his father bought slaves, he 
would have answered, “ Why, of course.” And 
he would have wondered why they should ask 
such a foolish question. But really there would 
have been no one to ask the question. 

To the people of Athens, slaves seemed just 
as necessary as a house to live in, and they 
were bought and sold in much the same way. 

When Hermippos reached the market he 
found it well filled with people. The slaves 
were upon a platform where they could be seen 
by those who wished to buy. Hermippos went 
among them, questioning one and another. 
Then he found Cimon, and pointed out one of 
the slaves with whom he had talked. 

“ He is a vase-maker,” said Cimon, “ and 
worth much more than the common slave.” 




86 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


“ I am willing to pay somewhat more,” re¬ 
plied Hermippos. 

After a time a price was agreed upon, and 
the money paid. Then Hermippos and the two 
boys returned home, the new slave taking his 
place among the others who had attended Her¬ 
mippos. 

When they reached the house, and the door 
was opened, they were met by a shower of 
sweetmeats. 

“ What does this mean? ” asked Duris, catch¬ 
ing some of the falling sweets in his hands. 

“ Oh,” laughed Hiero, “ it is the custom to 
scatter sweetmeats through the house when a 
new slave enters.” 

“ Why do you do it? ” asked Duris. 

“ It is a good omen,” replied Hiero. “ That 
is all I know about it, except that the sweet¬ 
meats are good to eat.” With that he caught 
up a handful, and invited Duris to do the 


same. 




THE NEW SLAVE 


87 


“ It is certainly a pleasant custom,” exclaimed 
Duris. 

“ Yes, much pleasanter than another which 
we observe,” Hiero responded. “ Once a year 
we choose a. slave to represent everything that 
is mean and worthless. Then the other slaves 
run after him, beat him, and drive him out of 
doors. That,” Hiero added, seriously, “ is to 
drive poverty and trouble away from the 
home.” 

“ Do you remember seeing a slave run into 
one of the temples in the Acropolis yester¬ 
day?” asked Duris, after a pause. “I in¬ 
tended to ask you about it then, but you were 
talking with your father, and I forgot about 
it. The fellow looked frightened, and he. ran 
as though for his life.” 

“ He probably was running for his life. 
Some of the slave owners are terribly cruel. 
If a master goes too far the slave can run to 
the altar of some god and claim protection. 



88 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


I am glad my father is good to our 
slaves.” 

“ When we left the Island,” said Duris, “ my 
father gave one of our slaves his freedom. He 
had served us well, and was more like a friend 
than a slave. When he received his freedom 
he was the happiest man I ever saw. 

“ What is your new slave to do? ” he added. 

“ He is to help my father in his studio,” re¬ 
plied Hiero. “ I heard Cimon say that he was 
a vase-maker by trade.” 

“ Let us go into the studio and see him,” 
suggested Duris. 

“ That is a good plan,” responded Hiero. 
“ Perhaps he will teach us how to make vases. 
That would be fun.” And away the boys ran 
to the studio to form the acquaintance of the 
new slave. 



CHAPTER XII 


PREPARING TO BE SOLDIERS 

“ What is the meaning of all these? ” asked 
Duris, pointing to a large number of bronze 
pillars, which he and Hiero were passing as 
they walked along one of the streets of the 
city. 

“ Oh,” replied Hiero, “ those contain the 
names of the men of Athens who would have 
to serve in the army, if there should be war. 
See,” he added, going close to one of the pillars, 
“ you can read the names plainly. 

“ Every year,” continued Hiero, “ a new 

pillar is put up, and the oldest one is taken 

away. That is because a new class from the 

gymnasium has reached the age of eighteen, 

and is ready for service. The youths in this 

class are called ephebi , The men whose names 
89 


90 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


are on the oldest pillar are then too old to 
serve, and their pillar is taken down. There 
are forty-two pillars in all. 

“ It is almost time for a new pillar to be set 
up. The youths are being drilled every day 
in the gymnasium. Shall we go and watch 
them? ” 

“Yes, I should like to,” replied Duris, so 
Philo and Theron followed, as the boys turned 
toward the gymnasium. 

The gymnasium, like the wrestling school, 
was built around a court, in which the young 
men exercised and drilled. Seats were provided 
for visitors. 

“ Do you see the tall man with the rod?” 
asked Hiero, after he and Duris had taken their 
places. “ He has charge of the gymnasium and 
It is his business to keep order. He does not 
hesitate to use his rod if there is any trouble. 
Visitors are just as likely to feel the rod as 
any one else, if they are not well behaved.” 




PREPARING TO BE SOLDIERS 91 


“ I see, you are warning me,” laughed Duris. 
“ I shall try to be as quiet as a girl,” and he 
folded his hands and looked so solemn that 
Hiero laughed outright. 

The boys found the gymnasium an interest¬ 
ing place. They watched the young men as 
they practised fencing, spear throwing, and 
shooting with bow and arrow. But, best of 
all, they enjoyed seeing them ride, for the 
horses were spirited, and it required skill to 
mount and handle them. No saddles were used 
and no stirrups. A blanket took the place of 
a saddle, and the rider placed the end of his 
spear upon the ground and leaped to the horse’s 
back. 

As a group of riders dashed past the boys, 
Duris exclaimed: “They look just like the 
sculptures on the Parthenon! ” 

“ Yes,” said Hiero, “ there are many figures 
of youths on horseback in the Parthenon.” 

“ Who is the man in the midst of that group 




92 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


of youths? ” asked Duris, as he and Hiero were 
about to leave the gymnasium. 

“ That,” said Hiero, “ is Socrates, the phi¬ 
losopher. He teaches a class of young men here 
every day.” 

As the boys passed the group they heard 
Socrates saying earnestly, “It is better to be 
honest than to make sacrifices to the gods.” 

“ My cousin’s name is on the last pillar,” 
Hiero said on the way home. “ After he had 
finished his training in the gymnasium there 
was a great feast at his home. His hair had 
been cut short, and for the first time he put on 
the chlamys, which men alone may wear. I am 
glad we boys wear only the chiton. We are 
so much more free to run and jump and exer¬ 
cise. 

“ But, I suppose,” he added, “ that when we 
are eighteen, we will be glad to wear the chla¬ 
mys, for that will show that we are men.” 

It was not many days after this that Her- 




PREPARING TO BE SOLDIERS 93 


mippos said to the boys, “ The new ephebi take 
the oath of allegiance to the state, to-morrow. 
I suppose you would like to go to the theatre 
and see them.” 

“ Yes, indeed,” answered the boys together. 

The theatre consisted of row after row of 
stone seats rising in a semicircle about an open 
space which served as a stage. There was no 
covering over the seats or stage, but all was 
open to the sky. 

When Hiero and Duris took their places, it 
seemed to them that all the citizens of Athens 
must be in the theatre. 

“ What a lot of people! ” exclaimed Du¬ 
ris. 

“Yes,” said Hiero, and then he added, 
“ Here come the ephebi.” 

The young men, with hair cut short and 
wearing the chlamys or cloak, marched upon 
the stage of the theatre and their names were 
written in the records of Athens. Then fol- 




94 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


lowed what, to them, seemed the most impor¬ 
tant part of the ceremony, for each one was 
given a shield and a spear. As they marched 
out, each one wearing his shield and carrying 
his spear, they bore themselves proudly, and 
the air was filled with the shouts and the ap¬ 
plause of the people. 

“Now they are soldiers!” said Hiero ea¬ 
gerly. 

“What will they do now?” asked Duris. 

“ They will have to serve for a year in the 
country outside of Athens. They will ride and 
march, and go into camp, just as the soldiers 
do. But after that they will come back to 
Athens and take part in all the processions and 
celebrations. It must be fine! ” 

“ But suppose there should be war?” ques¬ 
tioned Duris. 

“ Then they would have to go into battle,” 
said Hiero. “ But there have been no wars 
since Pericles has been our ruler. And there 




PREPARING TO BE SOLDIERS 


95 


is not likely to be soon, for he has made a 
treaty of peace which is to last for thirty 
years. The treaty is called the ‘ Peace of Peri¬ 
cles.’ ” 




CHAPTER XIII 


A STORY IN THE STUDIO 

“ Will your father care if we visit the 
studio? ” Duris asked one day, as he and Hiero 
came in from school. 

“ No,” answered Hiero, “ he always likes to 
have us there.” 

“ My father told me that he had a new group 
of statues almost finished, and he wanted me 
to see it.” 

The two boys entered the studio where Her- 
mippos was at work. The new slave was mix¬ 
ing clay for a model. 

“ Well,” said Hermippos, “ have you come 
to take another lesson in vase making?” 

“ Not to-day,” answered Duris, “ but Father 
wanted me to see your new group of statues.” 

“ It is nearly finished,” said Hermippos. 

96 


A STORY IN THE STUDIO 


97 


“ If you boys will wait a few minutes we will 
have a talk about it.” 

The boys seated themselves near the slave 
and watched him as he handled the clay, mois¬ 
tening and kneading it, so that it would be firm 
and elastic when Hermippos should be ready 
for it. 

In a few minutes Hermippos stepped down 
from the platform upon which he had been 
working. “ Now, then,” he called to the boys, 
“ come and tell me what you think it repre¬ 
sents.” 

There were three figures in the group, and 
the boys looked at it earnestly. 

“ One man,” began Hiero slowly, “ seems to 
be a captive. Another is about to kill him. 
The third man runs toward them, — but I can¬ 
not think what story it represents.” 

“ Is it from history? ” asked Duris. 

“ Yes,” replied Hermippos, “ this group rep¬ 
resents an event in the history of Greece, and, 



98 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


of course, there is a story connected with it. It 
is the story of Damon and Pythias. 

“ At the time of the story, Dionysius was 
ruler of a certain city, but he was cruel and 
unjust. Pythias was one of the citizens and 
he formed a conspiracy to overthrow Dionysius. 
However, Dionysius learned of the conspiracy 
and he captured Pythias and put him in prison. 

‘ You have but a few days to live,’ said Di¬ 
onysius, ‘ so put your affairs in order. In a 
short time you shall pay with your life for the 
conspiracy against me.’ 

“ Now Pythias had some important business 
to attend to, and he w T as very much troubled 
about it. But he had a friend, Damon, who, 
he knew, would stand by him no matter what 
trouble he might be in. 

“ It was not long before Damon came to the 
prison to see him. Then Pythias told him of 
all these matters. ‘ I must see to them,’ he said, 

‘ before Dionysius puts an end to my life! ’ 



A STORY IN THE STUDIO 


99 


“ ‘ I will willingly stay in the prison in your 
stead,’ volunteered Damon. 

“ So Dionysius was told that Damon would 
remain in the prison while Pythias settled his 
business affairs. 

“ Dionysius was amazed. 

44 ‘ I never heard of such friendship as this! ’ 
he exclaimed. 4 Suppose your friend Pythias 
does not return ? ’ 

44 4 1 will take his place,’ said Damon sim¬ 
ply, ‘ but I have no fear that he will not re¬ 
turn.’ 

44 Dionysius laughed. 4 Do as you will,’ he 
said, 4 but I am sure no friendship will stand 
such a test as that.’ 

44 So Pythias was released from prison. 

44 Days passed, and the time had almost come 
when Pythias was to be put to death. Diony¬ 
sius appeared and laughed again at Damon. 
4 You will pay with your life for such a friend¬ 
ship,’ he declared. 




100 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


“ ‘ He will yet come,’ said Damon simply, 
and just then there was a shout. 

“ Pythias had been detained, but now he was 
in sight, running with breathless speed. 

“ Then the soldier rushed in and told Diony¬ 
sius that Pythias was at the door of the prison. 

“ 4 1 order the execution stopped,’ shouted 
Dionysius. ‘ Such friendship as this between 
men is too seldom seen. I, myself, would like 
to be admitted to such a friendship.’ 

“ So Pythias was released, and he and 
Damon went away from the prison free men.” 

As Hermippos finished his story he noticed 
how the eyes of the boys shone, and uncon¬ 
sciously they had clasped each other’s hand. 



CHAPTER XIV 


DURIS LEAVES ATHENS 

The great music hall which Phorion had 
built was finished. It was a beautiful building, 
and Phorion was honored and praised and 
feasted. 

Pericles, the ruler, wished him to make his 
home in Athens. But there was work in the 
Island which Phorion had promised to do upon 
his return there. 

“ I should be glad to make Athens my home,” 
he said, in talking with Hermippos, “ for it is 
a beautiful city in which to live. But I must 
fulfill my promise first. Perhaps after that I 
may return with my family.” 

“ I sincerely hope so,” replied Hermippos. 

“ Athens needs men like you. 

101 


102 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


“ It will be hard for the boys to part,” he 
added. 

“ I am sure of that,” replied Phorion. “ I 
should be glad to take Hiero with me, if I were 
sure that we could return soon. The boys 
would enjoy the trip together. But I shall have 
to stay for some time in the Island, and, besides, 
I have recently heard rumors of trouble which 
I like not.” 

“ Ah,” said Hermippos, “ so you have heard 
the rumors, too! I fear that the thirty-year 
treaty of peace is likely to be broken.” 

“ I am sorry if it is so,” replied Phorion. 
“ Pericles is a wise and just ruler. He has made 
Athens a wonderful city. We must beseech the 
gods to avert the threatened war.” 

“ It would put an end to the building of 
temples and the carving of statues,” said Her¬ 
mippos. “ But the walls of Athens are too high 
and too strong for her citizens to feel much 
fear. 



DURIS LEAVES ATHENS 


103 


“ Here are the boys,” he added, as Hiero 
and Duris came into the room, each with a 
honey cake in his hand. 

“Where did you get the cakes?” asked 
Phorion. 

“ Oh, we bought them of a street vender, 
on our way from school,” answered Duris. 
“ We first watched them baked, and they were 
hot when we bought them.” 

“ Eat your cakes together then,” said Pho¬ 
rion with a smile; and then he added, “You 
boys know, of course, that the music hall is 
finished, and that we shall soon leave Athens.” 

The boys exchanged a troubled look. 

“Will you be sorry to go?” asked Phorion. 

“ I shall be very sorry to leave Hiero,” Duris 
replied quickly. “ But, of course, our home is 
in the Island.” 

“ Will we ever see each other again? ” asked 
Hiero soberly. 

“ No one can answer that question,” replied 



104 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


Hermippos. “ But we hope it will not be long 
before Phorion will return with his family, and 
make his home in Athens.” 

“ Oh! ” exclaimed the boys together. “ That 
will be fine.” 

“When do we leave, Father?” inquired 
Duris. 

“ In three days,” replied Phorion, “ so make 
the most of your time together.” 

The next two days were crowded as full as 
possible with fun and frolic and sightseeing. 
Toward night of the second day the boys paid 
a last visit to the Acropolis. 

They wandered about the temples, looked at 
the carvings and statues, and then, standing 
together by the wall, they looked off to the blue 
waters of the Mediterranean. 

“ To-morrow,” said Hiero very soberly, 
“ you will be sailing on the water. Athens will 
seem lonely to me without you.” 

“ I shall miss you, too,”, said Duris, “but — 



DURIS LEAVES ATHENS 


105 


well, we’ll remember the story your father told 
us about Damon and Pythias — and I hope I 
can come back to Athens sometime.” 

“ Oh, Duris! ” shouted Hiero the next morn¬ 
ing, running into the court, where Duris was 
playing with the pet hare, “ Father says that 
we are going as far as the Piraeus with you.” 

“ Good! Good! ” exclaimed Duris. “ Then 
you will see us sail! ” 

A little later quite a company of people set 
out from the home of Hermippos on their way 
to the Piraeus. 

Hermippos and Phorion, Hiero and Duris, 
were each mounted upon a donkey. With them 
was a large group of slaves. Those belonging 
to Phorion carried bundles of clothing, blankets 
and cooking utensils, as they had when they 
came to Athens. Besides these, they carried 
bundles in which were many beautiful and costly 
gifts which Phorion had received while in Ath¬ 
ens. Some of these were gifts from Pericles. 



106 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


“ It is nearly two years since you came to 
Athens,” said Hiero as he rode beside Duris. 

“ Yes,” said Duris. “ What a lot of things 
I shall have to tell the boys in the Island. It 

will be great fun; but I wish you could be with 

__ ^ 

me. 

It was not long before they came in sight of 
the seas, lying blue and sparkling in the morn¬ 
ing sun; and soon they had reached the Piraeus. 

They rode through the streets of the town, 
and Hiero noticed how broad and smooth and 
regular they were compared with the streets of 
Athens. 

“ I don’t care for such streets at all,” he 
declared loyally. “ They are like a sum in 
arithmetic. The streets of Athens are like a 
poem.” 

Phorion and Hermippos laughed, but Pho- 
rion added: “ There is some truth in what he 
says. ’Tis plain to be seen that he loves 
Athens.” 




DURIS LEAVES ATHENS 


107 


When the party reached the dock they dis¬ 
mounted and left the donkeys in care of the 
slaves. 

“ We will go on board the triremes,” Her- 
mippos said to Hiero. “ I think you will enjoy 
that.” 

“Oh, yes, indeed!” exclaimed Hiero. “I 
have always wanted to see what the inside of 
a ship was like.” 

All along the docks were boat-houses in which 
were kept the triremes belonging to the navy of 
Athens. 

“ It must be a fine sight when a whole fleet 
of vessels are on the water! ” exclaimed Hiero. 

“ Yes,” replied his father, “ it is; but we will 
hope that it may be many years before Athens 
finds it necessary to unlock her boat-houses.” 

The trireme upon which Phorion and Duris 
were to sail was fastened to one of the docks 
and they went on board. The boys were soon 
exploring every part of the ship. But that 




108 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


which interested them most was the place oc¬ 
cupied by the men who used the oars. Three 
rows of seats extended the length of the ship 
on each side. Beside each seat was an opening 
through which the oar extended into the water. 

“ Now we must leave the ship,” said Her- 
mippos, “ for the captain is ready to sail.” 

There were a few hurried words of farewell, 
Hermippos and Hiero sprang to the dock, the 
long oars touched the water together, and Pho- 
rion and Duris had started upon their home¬ 
ward journey. 

At just about the time that Hermippos and 
Hiero, with their attendant company of slaves, 
again entered the gates of Athens, Duris, on 
board the ship, pointed back to the land and, 
turning to his father, exclaimed, “ See the 
gleam, Father. The sun is shining upon the 
Acropolis and touching the tip of Athene’s 
spear.” 



CHAPTER XV 


THE BEGINNING OF WAR 

“ Father,” said Hiero, as he came in from 
school one day, “ the boys at school are talking 
of nothing but war these days. How is it? 
I thought that Pericles had made a treaty of 
peace which was to last for thirty years. Only 
half that time has passed since the treaty was 
signed.” 

“ There is such a treaty,” answered Hermip- 
pos, “ though treaties are sometimes broken. I 
trust that this one will not be, but Athens must 
defend her honor. 

“ We cannot see Athens insulted,” continued 
Hermippos, “ but war is a terrible thing. It 
always brings sorrow and trouble and ruin some¬ 
where.” 

“ I had thought it would be rather fine to 

109 


I 


110 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


have a war/’ said Hiero slowly. “We are 
taught at school to honor heroes, and to be 
prepared to defend our city and our country 
with our lives.” 

“ That is true,” replied Hermippos earnestly. 
“We should honor all who are brave and noble, 
and try to acquit ourselves bravely and nobly. 
We should not fear death, even, in a just cause, 
and all men despise a coward. 

“ But although war is often necessary, and 
brave men are needed when a nation’s honor 
is at stake, do not let the excitement or the 
trappings of war make you forget the fact that 
war itself is terrible . 

“ I would not have you a coward, my son,” 
Hermippos concluded, “ but I would have you 
reasonable and just and peaceable when peace 
does not involve dishonor.” 

But Hermippos’ hope of peace was not to 
be fulfilled. It was only a few days later when 
word was brought to Athens that the truce had 



THE BEGINNING OF WAR 


111 


already been broken and the King of Sparta 
with his army was marching toward Athens. 

Then there was a hurried mustering of sol¬ 
diers. Pericles sent messengers through all the 
surrounding country, bidding the farmers leave 
their fields and their crops and hasten to the 
city for protection. 

“ The walls of Athens are strong and high, 
and they reach to the coast,” declared Pericles. 
“ No army can break through them. Our ships 
can bring supplies to the Piraeus, so all who are 
within the walls will be safe.” 

The farmers came from all the country 
around, bringing their families and camping in 
the open spaces of the city, or between the walls 
which led to the Piraeus. 

Soon the King of Sparta came with his thou¬ 
sands of soldiers, far outmatching the Athe¬ 
nians in number. They marched across the 
country, burning the buildings and the stacked 
grain of the deserted farms. 




112 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


Inside the walls the people prayed to the 
gods and wept as they watched the smoke from 
their ruined homes. 

“ How strange the city seems,” said Hiero, 
as he went through the streets with Hermippos. 
“ Not at all as it was when Duris and I ran 
about together.” 

They passed a group evidently from a farm. 
The man, with folded arms, marched back and 
forth. His wife stood screaming and the chil¬ 
dren, huddled, were beside her, some crying, 
and all looking toward a black column of smoke. 

“ See! ” cried the man, stopping short in his 
walk and addressing Hermippos. “ That is 
my farm that is burning. And here we are 
penned up like rats while the Spartan army 
destroys our homes. Why cannot we go out 
and fight like men? ” 

“ Alas,” said Hermippos, “ we are too few 
to meet such an army. If Pericles were to 
open the city gates we should all be captured 




THE BEGINNING OF WAR 


113 


or slain. Inside the walls we are safe. It is 
hard, I know,” he added, “ but think of your 
wife and children.” 

That night Hermippos came home with news. 
“ Pericles has decided to send out a fleet of 
vessels. We will fight along the coast.” 

“We!” cried Harmonia. “Are you go¬ 
ing?” 

“Yes,” replied Hermippos. “I am going.” 

In a few days the fleet sailed. Harmonia 
was a brave woman, but she wept as she bade 
Hermippos farewell. Helen and Chloris clung 
to his hands as though they could not let him 

go- 

Hiero felt strangely choked, but he was proud 
of his father. He remembered his words: 
“ Brave men are needed when a country’s honor 
is at stake: but war is terrible.” 

Hiero was beginning to understand. 

Each day, after the fleet had sailed, he went 
to the market-place to learn what news there 



114 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 

might be, and then he returned to Harmonia 
and his sisters. 

“ The Spartan army will not stay much 
longer,” he reported, after one of these visits. 
“ They see that we could stay forever inside 
the walls of Athens and they could not touch 
us. They are getting tired of this sort of war¬ 
fare.” 

“ And will they go away, and will Father 
come back?” asked Chloris, looking at her 
mother. 

“ I hope so,” answered Harmonia. 

A few days later Hiero returned with better 
news still. “ The Spartan army is making prep¬ 
arations to leave,” he cried. “ They are taking 
down their tents, and, in the distance, one com¬ 
pany can be seen marching away.” 

“ I hope this will end the war,” said Har¬ 
monia earnestly. 

But the next time Hiero returned from the 
market-place he came slowly, and when Har- 



THE BEGINNING OF WAR 


115 


monia saw his face she exclaimed, “ What is it, 
Hiero? What is the news? ” 

Then he told her that the fleet which Pericles 
had sent out had been defeated in one of its 
battles and many of the soldiers had been killed. 

“Was that all that you learned?” Har- 
monia asked, and Hiero answered, “ Yes.” 

At the end of the year a solemn procession 
was seen, for the citizens of Athens were on 
the way to the public burial given in honor of 
those who had been killed in battle. 

Among the number was Hiero, who walked 
proudly, and yet with bowed head, for his 
father was one of those who had given his life 
for his country. 

The people gathered quietly and reverently 
about the monuments of the heroes of Athens. 
Not far away was the Acropolis, and the great 
statue of Athene, holding with one hand her 
shield and spear, and in the other the Winged 
Victory. 



116 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


Hiero could remember but little afterward of 
the sacrifices and the ceremonies, but when 
Pericles spoke in honor of the heroes Hiero 
listened well, and part of Pericles’ words he 
remembered as long as he lived. 

“ Let us who remain,” said Pericles, “ follow 
their example. Look around on this glorious 
city, think of her mighty empire. Let the love 
of her beauty sink into your souls, and when you 
consider her greatness remember that it was by 
the daring deeds of her citizens, done in the 
cause of duty and honor, that she was raised 
to this glorious height.” 

Hiero raised his eyes to the Acropolis. His 
father’s statues were upon its greatest temple: 
his father’s life had been given for Athens. 

He went home proudly to Harmonia. His 
heart was sad, but comforted. 



CHAPTER XVI 


HIERO THE VICTOR 

The time for the Olympic festival had come. 
Truce-bearers, wearing olive wreaths, and car¬ 
rying herald’s staves, went through all the 
streets of Greece. They proclaimed that the 
sacred games in honor of Zeus were soon to 
begin: that for three months war must cease. 
They invited all citizens of Greece to come to 
Olympia and witness the contests. 

There was great joy in Athens when the 
truce-bearers arrived. Every one who possibly 
could made preparations to go to Olympia. All 
were glad that for three months, at least, there 
was to be no war. 

“ The truce-bearers have come,” called 
Hiero, excitedly, as he reached home from the 
market-place, where the news had been pro¬ 
claimed. 


117 


118 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


Harmonia, Helen and Chloris listened ea¬ 
gerly. “ Now you will leave us,” said Har¬ 
monia, “ but you will do your best in the races, 
and I trust you may win the victory. Remem¬ 
ber your father, my son. If you win you will 
add great honor to his name, as well as to your 
own.” 

For many months Hiero had been training 
eagerly and faithfully, for he was at last to 
enter the running race for boys at Olympia. 
A few days later he left Athens with a company 
of men and boys, his trainers, and others who 
were to take part in the games. 

It was a pleasant journey in spite of a hot 
sun and dusty roads, for they stopped often 
under the trees to eat, or to dash into a stream 
for a cooling bath. They marched to the music 
of the cithara, or to the chorus of a song in 
which they all joined. 

Others were added to their number as they 
went on, until, as they drew near to Olympia, 




HIERO THE VICTOR 


119 


they formed a great company. Among them 
were people from every station of life. Peas¬ 
ants and fishermen, poets and statesmen — all 
were bound for the great festival. Many were 
on foot, others rode horses, some drove in 
chariots. When they reached the river they 
found it covered with rich barges carrying 
wealthy merchants and high officials from dis¬ 
tant states. 

“ I have never seen such a splendid gather¬ 
ing of people! ” exclaimed Hiero to one of his 
companions. “ Nor I,” replied the boy. “ Even 
the Panathenaea seems a quiet affair compared 
with this.” 

When they reached Olympia those who were 
to take part in the contests were placed in the 
care of the rulers of the Olympic games. They 
were examined and questioned, to make sure 
that they were fitted by birth and training to 
enter the races. 

When Hiero was asked his parentage he re- 




120 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


plied proudly, “ I am the son of Hermippos, 
the sculptor, and of Harmonia, of the house of 
Solon.” 

After all had been examined, a sacrifice was 
offered, and each one solemnly promised to use 
no unfair means to win the contests. 

“ I am glad the foot races come first,” said 
Hiero to one of his companions. “ I should 
be too anxious to enjoy the other contests, if 
ours came last.” 

Early in the morning the rulers of the games, 
clothed in purple robes, and wearing garlands 
upon their heads, marched to the stadium, or 
open space in which the contests were to take 
place. They were followed by the boys who 
were to compete in the running race. 

As Hiero glanced about him he felt almost 
dizzy at the sea of faces that rose upon all sides 
of the stadium. 

Then he heard the herald announcing the run¬ 
ning race, and he turned quickly away from the 




HIERO THE VICTOR 


121 


vast throng of people in order that he might 
give all his thought to the contest that was 
before him. 

Soon he heard his own name called by the 
herald, “ Hiero, son of Hermippos, of the city 
of Athens.” Then, as Hiero stepped forward, 
the challenge rang out, “ Has any one here a 
charge to make against this youth? Has he 
committed any action unworthy of a competitor 
in the sacred games of the Olympian Zeus?” 

There was no response as the voice of the 
herald died away, and Hiero stepped back to 
his place. 

At length all was ready, and the boys drew 
up in line for the race. The signal was given, 
and they sped away, each one trying his utmost 
to follow the teaching of his trainer; to attain 
the greatest speed without waste of strength. 

On down the course they sped, and the peo¬ 
ple shouted and cheered, sprang upon their seats 
a ad waved their arms, as the favorite of one 




122 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


group and then another forged ahead of his 
competitors. 

As they neared the end one after another of 
the racers fell back. Others, who had saved 
their strength, dashed forward. There was a 
moment’s stillness over all the vast throng 
of people, then — one boy had touched the goal. 

“ Hiero! Hiero! Son of Hermippos, of 
Athens! ” rang the cry; and the people clapped 
their hands and cheered and shouted. 

For a moment Hiero struggled for breath, 
then he drew himself up gladly and proudly, as 
he realized that the honor of the race was his, 
and that it was his name that the people were 
shouting. 

Beside the head ruler of the games stood a 
beautiful tripod of gold and ivory. Upon this 
tripod were laid the olive wreaths with which 
the victors were crowned as soon as their con¬ 
tests were over. 

The branches from which these crowns were 





u 




FOR THE MOMENT HIERO FORGOT THE CROWD AND THE CHEERING 

















HIERO THE VICTOR 


123 


made had been freshly cut from the sacred 
olive tree. The cutting of the branches was 
done with a golden sword by a boy of pure 
Greek birth, both of whose parents were liv¬ 
ing. 

This boy, with the golden sword in his hand, 
now stood beside the tripod. 

Hiero was the first victor. 

As the herald called his name he stepped 
before the chief ruler and bowed his head to 
receive the victor’s wreath. 

What a thrill of joy and pride passed over 
him as he felt its touch! 

He lifted his head — then he started! He 
looked straight into the eyes of the boy who 
carried the golden sword, and the boy was — 
Duris! 

Once more the people cheered and shouted, 
but for the moment Hiero forgot the crowd and 
the cheering. His hands were clasped in those 
of Duris, and the fatherly arm that lay across 



124 OUR LITTLE ATHENIAN COUSIN 


his shoulders was that of Phonon, his father’s 
friend. 

“You are victor once more!” cried Duris. 
And then he added, “ We are going now to 
Athens to live.” 

“We can return together then!” exclaimed 
Hiero. “ Oh ! I am glad! ” 

But they had time to say no more, for the 
people were throwing garlands and flowers and 
gifts at Hiero’s feet. 

Flushed and proud and happy, he bowed to 
right and left as he gathered up his treasures, 
and when his arms overflowed it was Phorion 
who stepped to his side to help him. 

During the remaining days of the festival 
Hiero and Duris spent most of the time to¬ 
gether. They sang together the hymns of vic¬ 
tory, they marched side by side in the proces¬ 
sions, a*nd they feasted at the same banquets. 

But it was on the long march back to Athens 
that they had the most time in which to tell of 




HIERO THE VICTOR 


125 


all that had happened during their time of sep¬ 
aration. 

At length the triumphal procession drew 
near the city. “Athens!” exclaimed Hiero, 
and Duris added: “The city that we both 
love !•” 

Hiero’s heart beat fast. “ How glad my 
mother and sisters will be,” he thought, and a 
great happiness surged over him. 

As they entered the city gates there was music 
and singing and joyous laughter. 

“Ah,” exclaimed Duris, “how proud I am! 
It is good to return to Athens by the side of 
‘ Hiero the Victor.’ ” 


THE END. 





































































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THE LITTLE COLONEL BOOKS 

(Trade Mark) 

By ANNIE FELLOWS JOHNSTON 
Each 1 vol., large 12 mo, cloth, Illustrated , per vol. . §>1.50 

THE LITTLE COLONEL STORIES 

(Trade Mark) 

Being three “ Little Colonel ” stories in the Cosy Comer 
Series, “ The Little Colonel, ” “ Two Little Knights of 
Kentucky,” and “ The Giant Scissors,” in a single volume. 

THE LITTLE COLONEL’S HOUSE PARTY 

(Trade Mark) 

THE LITTLE COLONEL’S HOLIDAYS 

(Trade Mark) 

THE LITTLE COLONEL’S HERO 

(Trade Mark) 

THE LITTLE COLONEL AT BOARDING- 

(Trade Mark) 

SCHOOL 

THE LITTLE COLONEL IN ARIZONA 

(Trade Mark) 

THE LITTLE COLONEL’S CHRISTMAS 

(Trade Mark) 

VACATION 

THE LITTLE COLONEL, MAID OF HONOR 

(Trade Mark) 

THE LITTLE COLONEL’S KNIGHT COMES 

(Trade Mark) 

RIDING 

MARY WARE: THE LITTLE COLONEL’S 

CHUM (Trade Mark) 

MARY WARE IN TEXAS 
MARY WARE’S PROMISED LAND 

These 12 volumes, boxed as a set, $18.00. 

A—1 



L. C. PAGE &> CO MPA NYS 


THE LITTLE COLONEL 

(Trade Mark) 

TWO LITTLE KNIGHTS OF KENTUCKY 
THE GIANT SCISSORS 
BIG BROTHER 

Special Holiday Editions 

Each one volume, cloth decorative, small quarto, $1.25 
New plates, handsomely illustrated with eight full-page 
drawings in color, and many marginal sketches. 

IN THE DESERT OF WAITING: The Legend 
of Camelback Mountain. 

THE THREE WEAVERS: A Fairy Tale for 
Fathers and Mothers as Well as for Their 
Daughters. 

KEEPING TRYST 

THE LEGEND OF THE BLEEDING HEART 
THE RESCUE OF PRINCESS WINSOME: 

A Fairy Play for Old and Young. 

THE JESTER’S SWORD 

Each one volume, tall 16mo, cloth decorative . $0.50 

Paper boards..35 

There has been a constant demand for publication in 
separate form of these six stories which were originally 
included in six of the “ Little Colonel ’ books. 

JOEL: A BOY OF GALILEE: By Annie Fellows 
Johnston. Illustrated by L. J. Bridgman. 

New illustrated edition, uniform with the Little Colonel 
Books, 1 vol., large 12mo, cloth decorative . . $1.50 

A story of the time of Christ, which is one of the author’s 
best-known books. 

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BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 


THE LITTLE COLONEL GOOD TIMES BOOK 

Uniform in size with the Little Colonel Series . $1.50 

Bound in white kid (morocco) and gold . . 3.00 

Cover design and decorations by Peter Verberg. 
Published in response to many inquiries from readers 
of the Little Colonel books as to where they could obtain 
a “ Good Times Book ” such as Betty kept. 

THE LITTLE COLONEL DOLL BOOK 

Large quarto, boards.$1.50 

A series of “ Little Colonel ” dolls. There are many of 
them and each has several changes of costume, so that 
the happy group can be appropriately clad for the re¬ 
hearsal of any scene or incident in the series. 

ASA HOLMES; Or, At the Cross-Roads. By 
Annie Fellows Johnston. 

With a frontispiece by Ernest Fosbery. 

Large 16mo, cloth, gilt top.$1.00 

“ ‘ Asa Holmes; or, At the Cross-Roads * is the most 
delightful, most sympathetic and wholesome book that 
has been published in a long while.” — Boston Times. 

TRAVELERS FIVE: ALONG LIFE’S HIGH¬ 
WAY. By Annie Fellows Johnston. 

With an introduction by Bliss Carman, and a frontis¬ 
piece by E. H. Garrett. 

Cloth decorative.$1.25 

“ Mrs. Johnston’s . . . are of the character that cause 
the mind to grow gravely meditative, the eyes to shine 
with tender mist, and the heart strings to stir to strange, 
sweet music of human sympathy.” — Los Angeles Graphic. 
THE RIVAL CAMPERS; Or, The Adventures 
of Henry Burns. By Ruel Perley Smith. 

Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated . . $1.50 

A story of a party of typical American lads, courageous, 
alert, and athletic, who spend a summer camping on an 
island off the Maine coast. 

THE RIVAL CAMPERS AFLOAT; Or, The 

Prize Yacht Viking. By Ruel Perley Smith. 

Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated . . $1 50 

This book is a continuation of the adventures of “ The 
Rival Campers ” on their prize yacht Viking. 

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L. C. PAGE & COMPANY'S 


THE RIVAL CAMPERS ASHORE 

By Ruel Perley Smith. 

Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated . . $1.50 

“ As interesting ashore as when afloat.” — The Interior. 

THE RIVAL CAMPERS AMONG THE 
OYSTER PIRATES; Or, Jack Harvey’s Adven¬ 
tures. By Ruel Perley Smith. Illustrated . $1.50 

“ Just the type of book which is most popular with lads 
who are in their early teens.” — The Philadelphia Item. 

A TEXAS BLUE BONNET 

By Caroline Emilia Jacobs (Emilia Elliott). 

12mo, illustrated.$1.50 

“ The book’s heroine Blue Bonnet has the very finest 
kind of wholesome, honest lively girlishness and cannot 
but make friends with every one who meets her through 
the book as medium.” — Chicago Inter-Ocean. 

BLUE BONNET’S RANCH PARTY 

A Sequel to “A Texas Blue Bonnet.” By Caroline 
Elliott Jacobs and Edyth Ellerbeck Read. 

12mo, illustrated.$1.50 

The new story begins where the first volume leaves off 
and takes Blue Bonnet and the “ We Are Seven Club ” 
to the ranch in Texas. The tables are completely turned: 
Blue Bonnet is here in her natural element, while her 
friends from Woodford have to learn the customs and 
traditions of another world. 

THE GIRLS OF FRIENDLY TERRACE 

Or, Peggy Raymond’s Success. By Harriet Lum- 
mis Smith. 

12mo, illustrated.$1.50 

This is a book that will gladden the hearts of many 
girl readers because of its charming air of comradeship 
and reality. It is a very interesting group of girls who 
live on Friendly Terrace and their good times and other 
times are graphically related by the author, who shows 
a sympathetic knowledge of girl character. 

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BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 


PEGGY RAYMOND’S VACATION; Or, Friendly 

Terrace Transplanted. 

A Sequel to “ The Girls of Friendly Terrace.” By 

Harriet Lummis Smith. 

Library 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated . $1.50 

Readers who made the acquaintance of Peggy Ray¬ 
mond and her bevy of girl chums in “ The Girls of Friendly 
Terrace ” will be glad to continue the acquaintance of 
these attractive young folks. 

Several new characters are introduced, and one at least 
will prove a not unworthy rival of the favorites among 
the Terrace girls. 

THE HADLEY HALL SERIES 

By LOUISE M. BREITENBACH 

Each, library 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated . $1.50 

ALMA AT HADLEY HALL 

“ Miss Breitenbach is to be congratulated on having 
written such an appealing book for girls, and the girls 
are to be congratulated on having the privilege of reading 
it.” — The Detroit Free Press. 

ALMA’S SOPHOMORE YEAR 

“ The characters are strongly drawn with a life-like 
realism, the incidents are well and progressively se¬ 
quenced, and the action is so well timed that the interest 
never slackens.” — Boston Ideas. 


THE SUNBRIDGE GIRLS AT SIX STAR 
RANCH. By Eleanor Stuart. 

Library 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated . $1.50 

Any girl of any age who is fond of outdoor life will 
appreciate this fascinating tale of Genevieve Hartley’s 
summer vacation house-party on a Texas ranch. Gene¬ 
vieve and her friends are real girls, the kind that one 
would like to have in one’s own home, and there are a 
couple of manly boys introduced. 

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L. C. PAGE & COMPANY'S 


BEAUTIFUL JOE’S PARADISE; Or, The Island 
of Brotherly Love. A Sequel to “ Beautiful Joe.” 
By Marshall Saunders, author of “ Beautiful Joe.” 
One vol., library 12mo, cloth illustrated . . $1.50 

“ This book revives the spirit of ‘ Beautiful Joe ’ capi¬ 
tally. It is fairly riotous with fun, and is about as unusual 
as an 
light.’ 

’TILDA JANE. By Marshall Saunders. 

One vol., 12mo, fully illustrated, cloth decorative, $1.50 
“ It is one of those exquisitely simple and truthful books 
that win and charm the reader, and I did not put it down 
until I had finished it — honest! And I am sure that every 
one, young or old, who reads will be proud and happy to 
make the acquaintance of the delicious waif. 

“ I cannot think of any better book for children than 
this. I commend it unreservedly.” — Cyrus T. Brady. 
’TILDA JANE’S ORPHANS. A Sequel to “’Tilda 
Jane.” By Marshall Saunders. 

One vol., 12mo, fully illustrated, cloth decorative, $1.50 
’Tilda Jane is the same original, delightful girl, and as 
fond of her animal pets as ever. 

“ There is so much to this story that it is almost a novel 
— in fact it is better than many novels, although written 
for only young people. Compared with much of to-day’s 
juveniles it is quite a superior book.” — Chicago Tribune , 

THE STORY OF THE GRAVELYS. By 

Marshall SaundercS, author of “Beautiful Joe’s 
Paradise,” “ ’Tilda Jane,” etc. 

Library 12mo, cloth decorative. Illustrated by E. B. 

Barry.$1.50 

Here we have the haps and mishaps, the trials and 
triumphs, of a delightful New England family. 

PUSSY BLACK - FACE. By Marshall Saunders, 
author of “ ’Tilda Jane,” “ ’Tilda Jane’s Orphans,” etc. 
Library 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated . $1.50 

This is a delightful little story of animal life, written 
in this author’s best vein, dealing especially with Pussy 
Black-Face, a little Beacon Street (Boston) kitten, who is 
the narrator. 

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ything in the animal book line that has seen the 
’ — Philadelphia Item. 

















OCT 


6 1918 


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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 


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